Human Potential
The phrase Human Potential refers to the innate capacities, abilities, and possibilities that reside within each person.[1] It encompasses the totality of an individual's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual capabilities which can be developed and maximized over a lifetime given full satisfaction of one's Seven Essential Needs.
Human Development Terms
Human Development > Harmonic Social Structure, Human Development Framework, Human Potential, Seven Components of Human Development, Seven Essential Needs, Toxic Socialization
Human Potential Terms
Human Potential > Actual Realization, Full Realization, Human Flourishing, Individual Potential, Potential Realization, Species Potential
Related LP Terms
Human Potential > Graduation, Lightning Path Human Development Framework, Pathfinder Educational Framework, Post-Capitalist Skills, The Lightning Path, Toxic Socialization
Non-LP Related Terms
Human Potential > Potential Realization, Violence
Notes
Human potential may be broken into Individual Potential and Species Potential.
Human potential consists of Actual Realization, which is what an individual and a society is able to achieve, and Potential Realization, what is possible.
According to the Lightning Path Human Development Framework, actuation of full potential requires Sufficient Satisfaction of the Seven Essential Needs, from birth through old age.[2]
Failure to meet essential needs undermines potential, stunts development, and causes damage.
Active suppression of needs within a Toxic Socialization process leads to the 5Ds of Toxic Existence
There is, of course, the important question of "What is full human potential?" That's hard to tell because the human species has never enjoyed an optimal environment. We've never had a society that has the capacity to meet all Seven Essential Needs and we've never had a society that prioritizes their satisfaction. Until we do, we can only speculate what's possible.
Abraham Maslow provided some speculations.[3]
Nasa scientists Dr. George Land has some thoughts.[4]. View his brief talk below where he suggests that all children are born creative geniuses but that something (i.e., The System) dumbs them down.
Footnotes
- ↑ Galtung, Johan. “Violence, Peace, and Peace Research.” Journal of Peace Research 6, no. 3 (January 1, 1969): 167–91.
- ↑ Mike Sosteric and Gina Ratkovic, “It Takes a Village: Advancing Attachment Theory and Recovering the Roots of Human Health with the Seven Essential Needs,” Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2022, doi:https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol34iss1id887.
- ↑ Maslow, A. H. “The Farthest Reaches of Human Nature.” The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology 1, no. 1 (1969): 1–9.
- ↑ Engels, Coert. “We Are Born Creative Geniuses and the Education System Dumbs Us down, According to NASA Scientists - Ideapod.” Ideapod (blog), December 16, 2017. https://ideapod.com/born-creative-geniuses-education-system-dumbs-us-according-nasa-scientists/
