Instead of viewing the path toward self-actualization as a triangle as Maslow had, I believe we should consider ourselves to be on an elevator, with self-actualization being on the highest floors.
We ride this elevator, day in and day out. The very top floors are self-actualizing floors. People, events, actions and beliefs (all called "subevents" in this theory) influence which floor we currently are on. We could be on the fourteenth floor, very close to full self-actualization, then we hear of tragic news, immediately pulling our elevator down a few floors. Or, vice versa. You could be having the worst day of your life, then someone you love greatly shows you their love and immediately your elevator soars back up to the higher floors.
Our goal as humankind is to work to have our elevators be on the highest floors for as much of each day as possible. It is through this attempt that, I believe, we will rid ourselves of addiction and strife and instead, fill ourselves with the highest ideals of self-actualized people.
So please, explore my website, take the Fleming Elevator Survey, get your score and begin working on everything you can do to ensure that self-actualization is in your near future.
The Fleming Elevator: A New Approach to Self-Actualization falls squarely in the realm of "pop psychology". The psychological theorist behind this approach, Brian Fleming, does not assert himself to be an expert in psychology or any other field.
