Psychedelics and Self-Actualization
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When we look at psychedelics and how they relate to psychology, there are a lot of connections between the spiritual transcendence we experience and the psychology behind it. One of the earliest theories developed in the psychology realm is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs. The humanist theorist, Abraham Maslow, and his hierarchy of needs are seen as debatable because some needs are fulfilled by correlating needs that don't exactly fit the hierarchy. For example, when Maslow theorized the Hierarchy of Needs, it must be satisfied in the following sequence: Physiological needs, Safety, Love and Belongingness, Esteem, and lastly Self-actualization and transcendence.
Self-actualization and self-transcendence were later added but remain as one of the highest, most elusive of Maslow’s needs. Self-actualization is the motivation to develop one’s full potential as a human being, and self-transcendence involves a level of experience that is beyond the self, including spirituality, compassion, and morality. So how does this relate to psychoactive experiences? Let me tell you… DUN DUN DUNNNNN!
Psychedelics are one of the most spiritual experiences you can undergo in this lifetime. And self-actualization and transcendence are one of the biggest reasons individual’s have these experiences. When using psychedelics, you have a sense of well-being, and your mind and body are making new connections, while learning how to properly cope and process some things we could be going through or have gone through. Psychedelics can be used to process, transform, or reconstruct a part of ourselves or our lives. These experiences are necessary life lessons that not many take on because of warped stigmas and perception of what they really do to our mind and body. When we look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we deem this as relevant and true to our experiences and psychedelics are and should be in that same category because of the self actualization and transcendence it brings into our lives.
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When used properly, psychoactive experiences can steer someone out of addiction, away from mental health struggles, and toward a healthier lifestyle. When having the chance to find yourself spiritually, you can learn to strengthen all the levels that bring happiness to your life. You can learn how to strengthen the other tiers of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs through a variety of psychedelic experiences that don’t necessarily mean having a full trip.
Meditation, yoga, or journaling after a micro dose can help open our minds and bring a little more insight as to things that could better our well-being in terms of love and belongingness, esteem and self-actualization (from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs). A self-reflection in how we can better provide ourselves with safety and security can involve setting up a routine we know will help us thrive. For example, the Founder of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) claims he and his wife routinely use MDMA together to strengthen their marriage and partnership. This doesn’t mean you need to be scheduling trips, but finding ways similar to this can help boost self-actualization and transcendence.
One way of strengthening your Hierarchy of Needs is using cannabis (THC concentrated) for a night of relaxation, reflection, productivity or in a social context. Socially, cannabis can bring people together and bring out empathy and compassion for those around you, and this helps boost self-transcendence because of compassion and morality.
There are many ways we can create a healthy lifestyle for ourselves by using psychedelics and learning the ways it affects us physically and psychologically. When we apply this knowledge, we can get the full experience needed out of these medicines to strengthen, build, and teach ourselves. Hopefully some of these suggested ways can boost your lifestyle and happiness.
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