- A whole person is basically courageous. Because he is not afraid, he is open and curious and can look calmly and carefully at the world around him.
- He is not afraid of new situations.
- He can tolerate risks and uncertainty; not everything has to be planned and organized beforehand; he is not afraid to try.
- He is confident of his own ability and resources and does not panic easily. He does not fear losing control of his emotions and is confident that he can express them in an appropriate manner.
- He respects dangers but doesn’t magnify or escalate them, knowing that they do not automatically lead to disaster. He worries mostly about probabilities and not possibilities.
- The whole person is also a realist. There is a little wishful thinking in his makeup. He sees things accurately and does not confuse what is with what should be.
- He accepts the existence of cause and effect relationships operating in the world (that he can’t save money if he spends it; that he can’t lose weight and continue to over eat).
- A whole person is mature and disciplined. He accepts conventional standards when they are convenient. Most of the time, it is simpler and less complicated to do things in a conventional way; however, he modifies or rejects them when it is better for him to do so.
- Discipline shows also in the ability to postpone “instant gratification.” He is oriented toward growth and will not be swayed from his real goals by needs that clamor for immediate gratification. His main emphasis is on the development of his own skills and talents – that is gratification and satisfaction.
- A healthy person is in control of his own life, not driven by his neuroses; he listens to others, but makes up his own mind and takes responsibility for his actions. He can work as well as play.
- Good judgment is another quality of a healthy person; he is discriminating and selective. He does not get lost in unimportant details. He avoids extremes and sets realistic limits. He can be courageous and not reckless; frugal and not stingy; flexible without being wishy-washy; dignified and not arrogant.
- A whole person has a good measure of self-respect and self-esteem. He feels all human beings are worthwhile and valuable, including himself. He does not constantly have to seek approval from others to prove that he is a worthwhile person.
- The whole person is productive and creative. The major thrust of his life has been to develop his own abilities and resources. He has not scattered his energy in the pursuit of prestige or to impress others.
- The whole person is in good contact with his own feelings and can express them. He is not in doubt about how he feels. He is sensitive to himself and his own needs. He knows what he likes and wants even if he cannot have it.
- He is a good observer of himself and has the ability to stand back and look clearly at what is going on. He can respond simply and directly to what is going on at the present, whether it be with anger or with love.
- The whole person has a good sense of self. He knows who he is, what he wants, and in what direction he is going. He is natural and spontaneous.
- Finally, his relationships with other people are good. He feels lovable and capable of loving. As Freud once said, “Love and work, the healthy person is capable of both in full measure.”
–B. Freet
