Most people think of success as a destination—a prize you win after years of hard work, sacrifice, and discipline. But Abraham Maslow, the psychologist behind the famous Hierarchy of Needs, saw things differently.

He believed that true success isn’t about chasing anything—it’s about becoming something. More specifically, it’s about reaching self-actualisation—a state where you no longer act out of fear, insecurity, or external validation, but from an inner sense of purpose and fulfilment.

At Empowerment & Elevation, we echo this in our mantra: Do nothing. Be successful. We don’t mean sit back and wait for life to happen. We mean stop chasing success and start embodying the kind of person who naturally attracts it. When you become self-actualised, success stops being something you strive for—it becomes a byproduct of simply being who you are.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Why Most People Can’t Stop Chasing

Maslow outlined a five-stage pyramid of human needs, showing that people are driven by different motivations at different stages of life.

1. Physiological Needs – Food, water, shelter, sleep.
2. Safety Needs – Stability, security, financial well-being.
3. Love & Belonging – Connection, relationships, social acceptance.
4. Esteem Needs – Achievement, status, recognition.
5. Self-Actualisation – Living with purpose, embracing one's full potential.

Most people never reach self-actualisation because they get stuck in the lower levels of the pyramid—especially esteem needs. They chase money, fame, power, and social status, believing these will bring them fulfilment.

But here’s the catch: Chasing esteem keeps you from ever reaching self-actualisation.

When you chase external validation, you reinforce the belief that you are not enough without it. You stay trapped in an endless cycle of striving—never arriving.

At Empowerment & Elevation, we teach that the key to success is not chasing esteem, but transcending it. When you stop trying to prove yourself and instead focus on becoming yourself, success follows effortlessly.

The Self-Actualised Person: Success Without Struggle

Maslow described self-actualised people as those who:

• Live with purpose instead of seeking validation.
• Follow their inner calling, not society’s expectations.
• Create from inspiration, not fear or competition.
• Trust in life rather than trying to control everything.

These individuals don’t chase success because they don’t need to. Their fulfilment comes from within. As a result, they naturally attract success without resistance.

This is what we mean when we say: Do nothing. Be successful. The self-actualised man doesn’t grind himself into the ground trying to prove something. He simply aligns with his highest self, and success meets him there.

How Chasing Blocks Self-Actualisation

The reason most people never reach self-actualisation is because they are too focused on externally driven success. They chase things that society tells them will make them happy—only to realise that happiness keeps moving just out of reach.

Consider this:

• You tell yourself you’ll be happy when you make six figures—then you want seven.
• You crave status and recognition—then realise it never feels like enough.
• You grind for financial security—then fear losing what you built.

The more you chase, the further you are from true fulfilment.

Maslow believed that self-actualisation only happens when a person is free from the need for external validation. This doesn’t mean you stop achieving—it means you stop chasing for the sake of proving yourself. When you operate from a place of inner fulfilment, success naturally follows.

How to Reach Self-Actualisation (And Make Success Effortless)

Maslow didn’t just describe self-actualisation—he laid out a clear path to get there. Here’s how you can apply his insights and start aligning with success instead of chasing it.

1. Stop Seeking Validation & Start Following Your Inner Calling

One of the biggest barriers to self-actualisation is caring too much about what others think. Many people make choices based on social approval rather than personal truth.

Ask yourself:

• Am I chasing this goal because I want it, or because I want to impress others?
• If no one was watching, would I still be doing this?
• Does this path energise me, or does it feel like an obligation?

The moment you stop living for external validation, you become free to pursue what truly matters to you.

2. Shift from Fear-Driven Motivation to Inspiration-Driven Action

Most people work hard because they are afraid—afraid of failure, rejection, or being seen as “not enough.” But fear-based motivation always leads to burnout and dissatisfaction.

Instead, self-actualised individuals act from inspiration. They create, build, and pursue success because it feels natural—not because they’re afraid of what happens if they don’t.

Try this shift in perspective:

• Instead of working hard because you fear failure, work hard because you love what you do.
• Instead of networking to gain status, build relationships because they inspire you.
• Instead of grinding to prove your worth, create something because it excites you.

When your actions are inspired rather than forced, success stops being a struggle.

3. Let Go of Control & Trust the Process

Maslow’s self-actualised individuals don’t force outcomes—they trust in life’s natural unfolding. They understand that success doesn’t come from control—it comes from alignment.

This is where the ‘Do nothing, be successful’ philosophy comes in. It doesn’t mean stop taking action—it means stop forcing things out of fear. Take the right actions, but let go of attachment to the outcome.

Try this:

• Set clear intentions, but don’t obsess over how they unfold.
• Focus on becoming the person who naturally attracts what you want.
• Stop over-planning and start trusting in life’s timing.

The moment you let go of desperate control, success flows with less resistance.

4. Transcend the Need for Esteem & Step Into Your Highest Self

Maslow’s greatest insight was this: You can only reach self-actualisation when you stop chasing esteem and start living from your true self.

This means:

• Let go of chasing status—your value is not determined by others.
• Stop comparing yourself—your path is unique.
• Release the need to prove yourself—you are already enough.

When you operate from this mindset, success happens effortlessly. You don’t need to force it—it becomes the natural consequence of being fully yourself.

Self-Actualisation = Success Without Struggle

Maslow’s philosophy teaches that the highest form of success isn’t about doing more—it’s about becoming more. When you reach self-actualisation, success is no longer something you chase—it’s something you embody.

At Empowerment & Elevation, we help people shift from chasing success to aligning with it. Our approach isn’t about grinding, hustling, or forcing results. It’s about helping you step into the version of yourself who naturally attracts everything you’ve been chasing.

Final Thought: Do Nothing. Be Successful.

Self-actualisation is about removing everything that isn’t truly you so you can finally operate from your highest potential. When you stop trying to prove your worth and start living from your true self, success follows effortlessly.

Stop chasing. Start aligning. Success will come—not because you forced it, but because you finally became the kind of person who naturally attracts it.