Panacea

Albert Maslow a humanistic psychologist, postulated 15 characteristics or needs to be satisfied. If these needs are satisfied, the individual was then capable of experiencing moments of happiness and fulfillment. Existentialists, such as Rollo May, believed that it was possible for man to realize his potential. This was accomplished when the individual accepted the facts that death was a constant; and that within his nature, irrational forces exist, and they cannot be realistically solved through illusions of religion, politics, or other mythology. Erich Fromm wrote that being could have a productive orientation. With a productive orientation, man was able to love, care, respect another, and become creative. If this was not achieved, he could become destructive, conforming, and become non-descript within the masses. More recently, Martin Seligman addressed 3 types of happiness. The first being pleasure and gratification; the second having strength and virtue; and the third finding meaning and purpose. Simplifying, each of these theorists, within a motivational construct, believed that man can fulfill his nature, regardless of his environment. Each within their own framework and terminology, have provided insight, and understanding into man’s potential for excellence. These individuals provided hope within the constructs of existentialism, self-actualization, and well-being. However, these theories are lacking in that they do not address the importance of physical health. One simply cannot omit the importance of positive physical health, when addressing man’s human potential. Is it possible for a human being to achieve the various positive constructs of mental health functioning, if one does not possess excellent physical health? We all know that our body begins to significantly change over the passage of time. In fact, aging affects our immune system, memory, cognitive functions, musculature, sexual functioning and aerobic capacity. Certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, etc. results in doom, gloom and despair. To Be Continued