Self Awareness and Self Actualization

I had an interesting conversation with friend Steve regarding prerequisites for making choices about our lives. What is required to make a healthy choice about something that might be potentially unhealthy, like drinking alcohol or using drugs or having sex with someone for the first time?

As usual, Steve is thoughful and cogent. He suggested that it requires the ability to be self aware (how am I handling this? Is this causing me pain? Is it causing others pain?) and at least some understanding of what it means to be self actualized.

The latter is important. Although most of us aren't self actualized, if we do not understand the concept of self as independent and whole, it can be dangerous to use substances that cause great emotional or physical pleasure, because we may turn control over to that substance (or person associated with it).

Before experimenting with some of the "dynamite" laying around in our lives, it seems best to make sure that you know what makes you good and whole. If you start off that way (good and whole), then anything you add to the mix isn't the cause of it, and therefore you can control it.

Thanks, Steve, for the conversation and insight.