Self-Actualization

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore the concept of self-actualization by imagining, illustrating, and writing about their ideal selves. They will reflect on their personal strengths, goals, and aspirations to create a visual and written representation of the best version of themselves. This exercise aims to inspire students to set clear targets for personal growth and to take steps toward becoming their ideal selves.

Lesson Objectives

Imagine and depict their ideal selves.
Explore introspective questions to create a visual representation of the best version of themselves.
Study basic human anatomy and draw the human form.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow’s psychological concept, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, emphasizes self-actualization, where one reaches their full potential. To achieve this, we need to conceive an image of our ideal selves.

"Just as architects require a blueprint to construct a building, individuals need a plan to become the person they respect and admire."

Discussion

You craft yourself every day of your life, making yourself your ultimate masterpiece.

People who end up neglectful, dishonest or cruel likely never intended to be that way, but life's influences can steer us in unintended directions if we're not mindful. While it's healthy to have goals, tying self-worth entirely to social status, achievements, wealth, intelligence, or beauty can be precarious. Achievements can be fleeting, wealth may vanish, and intelligence and beauty naturally change with age. Those who value you solely for these traits may depart when they diminish. As we discuss and create a vivid portrait of your desired self, keep these considerations in mind to ensure your self-worth remains grounded and resilient.

Personal Characteristics

Who do you admire, and what traits do you aspire to embody from them?
What qualities do you admire most in yourself and others?
Do you have an idea and a vision of the person do you want to become?
What daily habits do you need to develop in order to become that person?
How can you develop those habits?
Do you have any goals or a vision for your future?
What matters most in your life (e.g., family, career, friendships, or money) and why?
What are your core values and beliefs?
What are your proudest achievements so far?
What is a healthy way to build our self-worth?
What activities do you enjoy, such as socializing, art, reading or writing?
What tasks do you prefer to avoid, like exercise, math, or paying bills?
What contribution do you want to make to society, and how do you want to serve others?
Can you foresee a career that brings both you and others joy?
What does your future look like in your imagination?
Do you envision parenthood in your future?
If there were no limits in life, what would you choose to have and do?

Physical Characteristics and Lifstyle

What will my body type be? (e.g., slender, fit, muscular, petite, etc.)
How tall would I like to be?
What clothing style will I adopt? (e.g., hip-hop, casual, formal, simple, etc.)
What type of hairstyle will I have?
What personality traits will define me? (e.g., funny, cool, kind, mysterious, friendly, etc.)
What impression do I want to leave on others?
What kind of friends do I want?
What kind of lifestyle appeals to me?
What habits or actions can I start now to become my ideal self?

Steps in Drawing the Human Figure

These steps will guide you through creating a well-proportioned and detailed human figure.

Torso: Start with the largest part of the figure, the torso. This will serve as the foundation for the rest of the body.
Limbs and Head: Move on to sketching the legs, arms, and head. Focus on the overall shape and position.
Proportions: While individual proportions can vary, aim for general similarities. Use your judgment to ensure balanced proportions for your figure.
Hands and Feet: Begin with basic shapes for hands and feet, then refine them by adding fingers and other details.
Facial Features: Add facial features such as the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears to give your figure character.
Different Poses: Experiment by drawing the figure in various poses to understand movement and flexibility.

Materials Needed

Sketchbook
Pencil & Eraser
Colored Pencils, Markers, or Crayons
Mirrors for self-reflection
Journals or notebooks for writing

What You Do

Introspection:
- Think about the qualities and characteristics you admire in yourself and others.
- Reflect on your personal strengths, goals, and aspirations and write them down.
Imagine Your Future Self:
- Write down words or phrases that capture the essence of your future self (e.g., intelligent, cool, kind, friendly, funny, sociable, creative, charming).
- Envision your future self: hairstyle, clothing, physical attributes, facial expressions, posture, and height.
Conceptualize with Rough Sketches:
- Begin with rough concept sketches of your future self.
- Use these preliminary drawings to refine your ideas.
Bring Your Future Self to Life:
- Transfer your vision onto a larger sheet of quality paper.
- Infuse the qualities you aspire to embody into your artwork.
- Use a photo reference or a mirror for accuracy.
Highlight Your Desired Traits:
- Emphasize the personal and physical attributes you want to represent in your illustration.
- Show confidence in your posture, style in your clothing, and sociability in a warm smile.
- Depict yourself in a role or job you aspire to have.
Pencil Drawing:
- Using mirrors for self-reflection, sketch your ideal self.
- Incorporate the qualities and characteristics you wrote about.
- Use reference images of human anatomy to understand body proportions.
Inking:
- Once the pencil outlines are complete, trace over them with black permanent markers or fine liners.
- Erase any lingering pencil marks to keep your drawings clean.
Add Color or Paint:
- Color your drawing using colored pencils, markers, or crayons.
- Choose colors that resonate with your vision of your ideal self.
- Consider the mood and atmosphere you want to create.
Writing:
- Write a short description of your ideal self next to your illustration.
- Include the qualities and characteristics you aim to embody, your goals, and the steps you plan to take to achieve them.
Presentation:
- Share your artwork and written description with the class.
- Explain why you chose certain qualities and goals, and how you plan to achieve them.