In the 1940s, the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow postulated the idea that all human beings focus their lives on satisfying certain needs linked to personal development and the process of giving meaning to one’s life, although in many cases they must focus first. into more short-term goals linked to health, hygiene and safety.
Once these basic needs have been covered, according to Maslow, our way of thinking naturally leads us to want to carry out those exciting projects.
This functioning is common to all people, and in addition to the interpersonal and social sphere, currently work plays a fundamental role in this type of experiences. After all, we spend many hours a week dedicating ourselves to paid work, and it makes no sense to separate this area from the rest of the aspects of life. If we feel like we are wasting time at our jobs, it will be difficult for us to experience personal development. That is why In this article we will explore the concept of “professional self-realization”
The concept of “self-actualization” refers to the experience of satisfying the highest and most abstract needs, those that allow us to feel good not only about ourselves, but also about our lives and what we do in general. Consists in connect our life project with a vital meaning something that corresponds to our values and interests most deeply rooted in our Self.
Professional self-realization is, therefore, the process according to which workers achieve satisfaction with themselves and with their work life through what they do in the work context, achieving the objectives set and obtaining fair recognition.
To achieve this self-realization It is necessary that there be a series of motivators in our daily work that generate well-being in the workplace that make us feel good about ourselves and make us be perceived as valuable workers not only for a specific company, but for society in general.
These motivators are related to a series of essential axes that, together and feeding each other, will allow us to find this general satisfaction at work.
Below we will briefly look at the main elements that characterize professional self-realization and the implications that these have on people’s lives, both personally and at work.
What are the essential elements that characterize professional self-realization?
Throughout our lives, people can go through different jobs. Some will be more in line with our long-term goals and others may be less so.
All jobs can have positive or negative aspects, the important thing is to identify those elements of each job that can benefit us most in the future. always having a long-term vision about our future
To correctly analyze whether a certain job is the most convenient for us, we must take into account what theThe main axes that define professional self-realization a final objective that all workers should keep in mind.
These are the main vectors with which self-realization at work can be achieved; Each of them plays a fundamental role in achieving this objective.
Satisfaction with the work done and the growth, both personally and professionally, that one acquires during the process are essential to achieving self-realization.
This satisfaction It has to do with doing a job that we like, with feeling positively valued with living intense and enriching experiences and also with feeling that we are an important part of the scheme of the company or organization of which we are part.
Furthermore, satisfaction It is related to the fact of enjoying most of the hours in which we are working that is, doing work that fulfills us.
2. Financial remuneration
Although the importance of financial remuneration is often avoided, the truth is that it is a fundamental part of the motivation of workers around the world.
It is one of the engines that push each employee to give their best during their work day and constitutes a real and tangible motivation, since it is related to the satisfaction of a wide variety of physical and psychological needs
With the money earned for the work done, workers can access all types of goods and services that allow them to live better and happier, as well as allowing them to give gifts or leisure trips to rest.
3. Time
In any paid job, the time we have to rest between workdays is essential for the worker’s mental and physical health.
It is of no use to us to have a job that satisfies us and whose financial remuneration is generous. If we do not have time to rest then during the week doing those activities that we like the most.
The ideal job should allow us to enjoy family and friends during the week and also allow us to spend personal time enjoying our hobbies or simply relaxing at home.
Professional self-realization is based on balance
That is why to achieve professional self-realization It is necessary to find a perfect balance between the axes Satisfaction, Money and Time
That is to say, the perfect job will be one that allows us to have equal parts of each of these three axes in a proportional manner: That allows us to have significant experiences that make us grow and that allows us to have a good salary and time to enjoy it.
While it is true that this may be one of the ways to achieve professional self-realization, some people may value money or free time above all, since we are not all the same nor do we conceive of life in the same way.
