The 3 Keys to Self-Actualization

Most people never reach their full potential.

They lack what I believe are the three essential factors of self-actualization: clarity, confidence, and energy.

When I was stuck in a cycle of stagnation, it was an increase in these three areas that finally pushed me into consistent action and progress toward becoming my best self.

Let me break it down.

Clarity: The Power of Knowing What You Want

Clarity gives you direction—a vision to guide your actions and filter out what’s worth pursuing from what’s not.

If you don’t know what you want (or don’t want) out of life, you’ll end up nowhere, stuck in an unfulfilling cycle of mediocrity.

To improve clarity, you need to get specific about the type of person you want to be and the life you want to live—as well as the opposite: who you don’t want to be and the life you don’t want to live.

Here are some questions to get started:

• Where do you want to live? (City, country, house, apartment, etc.)

• What do you want to do daily?

• What kind of people do you want around you?

• What do you currently enjoy and want more of in your life?

• What are you interested in?

• What do you hate about your current life?

• What do you not want to be doing every day?

The key is to get very specific about what you do and don’t want—then start making every decision through that lens.

Confidence: The Fuel for Action

Confidence is what gets you moving.

If you truly believe you can achieve a goal, why wouldn’t you act on it? If you know you can do something, the only thing left is to take action.

Without confidence, you get stuck overthinking—worrying about all the reasons something might not work. That hesitation is what keeps most people stuck.

Confidence comes from clarity. When you have a vivid vision and break it down into actionable steps, your confidence in achieving it naturally increases. Then, once you start taking action and see progress, your confidence compounds.

Some practical ways to build confidence:

• Keep promises to yourself (follow through on what you say you’ll do).

• Hit the gym and push yourself physically.

• Do things you know are good for you.

• Cut back on addictions and self-sabotaging habits.

• Take action even when you're scared or uncomfortable.

• Exercise discipline consistently.

Energy: The Stamina to Stay Focused and Persistent

Energy is both mental and physical stamina—the ability to stay persistent and focused long enough to make real progress.

You can have the vision (clarity) and the belief (confidence), but if you keep wasting your energy on distractions—video games, mindless scrolling, excessive socializing—you’re still getting nowhere.

Energy comes from discipline, focus, and momentum:

• Without focus, your energy will seep into pointless activities.

• Without discipline, you won’t be able to sustain focus.

• Without action, you won’t build momentum—and momentum fuels discipline, focus, and energy.

The Trifecta of Growth

The more action you take, the more clarity, confidence, and energy you generate.

Clarity helps you decide what to pursue. Confidence gives you the belief that you can make it happen. Energy fuels the consistent effort to get there.

This is the trifecta for true progress and achievement.

If you’re feeling stuck, take a hard look at these three areas of your life. Dial them in, and everything else will follow.

— Jackson