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TO DEVELOP OUR 6 HUMAN POTENTIALS IS TO BECOME A WHOLE
PERSON AND LIVE WITH QUALITY
THE WHOLE PERSON MODEL
In prehistoric times, the early humans must have relied heavily on their physical strength and skills in order to survive
just like mammals do. But after thousands of years man has developed other sides which today we could simply sum up as six
distinct personal potentials. They are the physical, emotional, social, mental, spiritual and volitional or discipline. To
say that a creature possesses those six capacities is, in effect, to define it as human.
The whole person can be pictured geometrically as a Circle; long recognized by students of myths and dreams as a symbol
of wholeness. In the model the circle is made up of six separate and equally important segments. When any one is incomplete
or damaged the entire circle loses its integrity. Actually each personal potential is in dynamic contact with all the others,
affected and being affected constantly. If metaphorically the circle was a wheel, deformity or lack of development in any
segment would cause the wheel to lose its roundness and the person would literally bounce and wobble his way through life.
The person then lacks quality of life. If on the other hand a person has developed all six personal potentials and metaphorically
the wheel is not only perfectly round but is large, then the person has a rich variety of possibilities for relating to himself,
other persons, his environment and the universe. Indeed, quality of life could be defined as a persons capacity to experience
several if not all of these levels of consciousness at any given moment. Lets look at each of them.
MENTAL
Memory coupled with feeling is experience; the best teacher of all. Thinking allows ideas, plans, organize priorities,
evaluate actions. Imagination allows us to consider all the alternatives to fantasize or rehearse actions in our mind. It
lends colour to logic and freedom to order
VOLITION
An adult, flexible sense of will and discipline that mobilizes the data, experience, values and energy generated by all
the other potentials and puts them to work in the service to achieve ones goals and personal vision. Personal mastery.
SPIRITUAL
Not all that is spiritual is religious. Spirituality is the human need to understand the meaning of life. Why are we here?
Where does the journey lead? Is there a universal order? Expressed inwardly and outwardly in meditation, prayer, development
of the higher self, humanitarian service and commitment to justice, health, human dignity and respect for others in our planetary
community.
SOCIAL
Qualities like trust, honesty, openness, cooperation, compassion and intimacy vital in close relationships with parents,
spouses children, lovers and friends.
EMOTIONAL
Feelings come from the heart and the gut not the intellect. To dare to feel your emotions and express them is to have
passion in life. It leads to a high level of Emotional Intelligence (E.Q.), a basic quality of leadership.
PHYSICAL
Health, strength, endurance, swiftness, agility, dexterity, grace, beauty, energy, sexuality. sensory awareness, communication.
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