Sydney Smith 
Denysha Taylor Maslow is recognized as the one most responsible for making humanistic psychology a formal branch of psychology. Humanistic psychologists believe that every person has a strong desire to realize his or her full potential, to reach a level of self-actualization. Self-actualization is defined as the innate human tendency toward wholeness, the person is open to experience and embrace the higher values of human existence.
I think that this is related to redemption because we do not really understand our full potential until we see what God can do in our lives. We cannot achieve things on our own, we will always need God’s help. The only way that we can get that help is to trust in him. This is where redemption comes into play. I think that Maslow described how we can also be afraid of our future and not want to put our trust in God. He called this the Jonah complex. It is defined as fear of one’s own greatness or running away from one’s best talents. We have great potential, but we cannot achieve such goals without God in our lives. He will always pave the way for us. Although sometimes it may be difficult. Maslow hits on how important self-actualization is for a person. I think that we can only achieve self-actalization through the Lord. He will help to show our potential and what we can do with our talents. Even though sometimes we may doubt ourselves, we must remember to put our trust in him. Redemption fits Maslow well because to reach the highest hierarch of needs, self-actualizaiton, we cannot do it alone. We will need guidance and encouragement, something that God will always provide us with as long as we trust in him.
Caroline Nikolaus
12:50 pm, 12.03.13
I like your statement that we “do not really understand our full potential until we see what God can do in our lives.” I think we can achieve things on our own, but if we allow God to work through us, we get a fuller and much more satisfying result. We probably get outcomes we are not expecting as well.
Matt McMahon
6:50 pm, 12.03.13
I enjoy your connection of Maslow’s ideas to God. I think that you make a good point of how we as Christian’s can only reach self actualization through God.
Kami Earle
10:22 am, 12.04.13
I really like how you related human “wholeness” to the redemption that God has given us. I think it is insightful, and I might not have caught that otherwise. Great post, Hillary!
Kasey Morgan
11:22 pm, 12.04.13
Hillary, I love what you wrote about Maslow. Speaking from experience, I can see your heart in this and I know that you truly believe that every person can reach their potential. I also agree with how you connected Maslow to our faith. Realizing who we are is very important but realizing whose we are is even more important. I see a lot of the Jonah complex in myself. I never know where to turn and sometimes all you have to do is close your eyes and pray. I really enjoyed your post!
Nicole Nelson
11:45 pm, 12.04.13
Hillary,
I really like how you make the connection between Maslow and redemption! I think it is very true that we as humans cannot realize our full potential until God is thrown into the mix. And I love how you talk about self-actualization being a process that is discovered through God. I think many of the psychologists we have talked about have focused so much on self-actualization as a personal exploration and something we must discover for our selves. But ultimately since God created us, he is the only one who knows our true self. He is the only one who can help us achieve true self-actualization. Great post!