BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS

In Meta Reflection (#35) I presented the concept that Maslow developed that the process of self- actualization in itself involves a clearer perception of reality. This is not just a possibility which is available to just a few people. It is an intrinsically human height to which anyone can potentially ascend in the peak experience, even if only rarely and momentarily. Here’s what Maslow wrote in Toward a Psychology of Being:

“If self-actualizing people can and do perceive reality more efficiently, fully and with less motivational contamination than we others do, then we may possibly use them as biological assays. Through their greater sensitivity and perception, we may get a better report of what reality is like, than through our own eyes, just as canaries can be used to detect gas in mines before less sensitive creatures can.” (Chapter 6)

And what do these self-actualizing people see more clearly that those of us who still struggle with the deficiency needs do not see, or only see vaguely through clouded lens? The answer is the being realm of life and experience —the nature and glory of being itself, the being-values, being-cognition, being-choices.

For most people, our everyday values are heavily contaminated by deficiency needs and motivation. These needs cloud what we value and how we value. They cloud them through the frame of mind of scarcity and deficiency that the lower needs create so that we see being and being a human being through the filter of instrumentality. That is, we see it through the questions, “What’s in it for me?” “What can I use this for?”

By way of contrast, when we move to the higher needs, the self-actualization needs, as self- actualizing persons we enter into the realm of being. At this level our motivation changes. It ceases to be instrumental. Now, instead of attempting to do or achieve something, our motivation is to simply notice, see, experience, and be. This also is precisely what enables us to see clearer and to make better choices.

Maslow argued that self-actualizers are “good choosers.” Have you ever known someone who just seemed to be predominantly a good chooser in the sense that they regularly and consistently choose alternatives that are conducive of health, wholeness, joy, learning, etc.? When we choose, we have a framework of values, a value-system from which we make our choices.

From his research and study of self-actualizing people, Maslow said that the good choosers among human beings are the self-actualizing people. They make choices more quickly and naturally. They make choices that the rest of us would make if we had more time, wisdom, options, and understanding. Somehow they seem to perceive sharply and clearly what we perceive more dimly. And because they see more clearly, they are able to discern the best and choose it more quickly.

Using the idea of a biological assay as a metaphor, Maslow said that these self-actualizers with their ability to be good choosers are like canaries in mines who can detect gas long before people can. From this Maslow then made a list of the common values of self-actualizers. As he correlated the values that he found in them over and over and over, he eventually called these the Being-values (the B-values). And what are they? Here’s Maslow’s list:

B-Values

What does the process of self-actualization entail and what is the experience of living a self- actualizing life like?

The process involves moving from an instrumentality mind-set to one of being-ness where we just observe and see and appreciate what is so that we can then fully express ourselves without ulterior motives.

And it is like rising up to a level of perception where we can see clearly, broadly, and with an ever-increasing perspective so that we see the B-values of what human life is designed to be at its best.

Interested in actualizing your highest visions and your best values? This is the heart of Neuro- Semantics— the purpose of our trainings, the focus of the Meta-Coaches. And when individuals begin to actualize in this way, so do families, and groups, and companies, and businesses, and nations.