Throughout history, and in an effort to make sense of our existence; religions, philosophy, psychology, and many other social sciences have come up with ideas to assist us in navigating through the stages of life. We at A Soul’s Quest drew inspiration from Carl Jung, Friedrich Nietzsche, Abraham Maslow, and Joseph Campbell, to derive the four stages that we believe provide clarity and awareness as we navigate through and make sense of existence.
These Stages are Dependency, Self-Reliance, Maturity, and Self- Actualizing.
Dependency
As we are pitched into the world, without choosing, we are born into a certain social environment already created for us. During this stage we are assimilated into our culture, trained in its norms, functions, and are shown our place within it. This process of social conditioning is necessary, without it we would be unable to meet any of our basic needs.
Self- Reliance
As we outgrow the confines of our families and culture, we test old values for their validity, keep them or discard them, then start creating our own. In the prologue to Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzche writes about the transformations of the spirit, and the need of the Lion to confront the Dragon. The Dragon symbolizes the negatives of social conditioning which takes away our humanity. The Lion is that natural impulse necessary to confront those outdated values and pave the way for something new.
Maturity
Being mature gives us the opportunity to create new values. Maturity symbolizes the individual’s capability to evaluate, test ideas, accept that nothing is a guarantee, and yet have the courage to take action. This stage allows us to be open to new possibilities without the need for judgment and resentment.
Self-Actualizing
In his later years, Abraham Maslow evolved the idea of Self- Actualization to Self- Actualizing. Life is ever-evolving, it never stops. The moment when you “arrive”, is the moment you start becoming the Dragon. Therefore, Self-Actualizing is creation and discovery.
Conclusion
Our current environment, with its emphasis on economics and our infatuation with measurements, leads many to pursue the path of least resistance and instant gratification. The Koran states; “how dare you think you will enter the garden of bliss without facing the trials like those that came before us.”
To make a change in our lives, we must first look back at what many before us have done to create new values. Second, we must understand that there will be challenges as we transition through life, and not confronting them will lead to stagnation and thus transforming into the Dragon itself. Finally, we must take personal responsibility. Responsibility takes courage, otherwise, stop lying to yourself and accept your predicament.
The Choice Is Yours