How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime

Self-actualization is the psychological process of reaching your fullest potential, becoming the best version of yourself, and finding personal fulfillment, a concept central to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs where it sits at the top, requiring basic needs (physiological, safety, love, esteem) to be met first. It's a journey of growth, creativity, and purpose, characterized by authenticity, self-acceptance, strong values, and meaningful relationships, rather than just external success.