Purpose in Life and
Self-actualisation

"A community of practice is ‘a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals"

Keith Lewis, Survivor Leader and RAB member

This outcome is about a feeling of optimism and fulfilment. The idea of being able to have hope to dream and desire to live is crucial, as is being able to tolerate good and bad days without fully losing this sense of hope. A key outcome feature is self- actualisation understood as the ability to follow passions in life and living life to the fullest. This could include, for example, using talents, setting goals for self- advancement, and articulating personal goals and dreams.

Survivor accounts on finding purpose in life and self-actualisation

Peter Peter describes self-actualisation for a survivor

Before I was trafficked, I had my individual purpose. It was like a fire that burned, but the rain came and put it out. Not all survivors are the same but every survivor has a purpose in their life, and they need to find it again. My purpose was always there, it was just lost. You want to continue stoking the flames now: you need to light up more logs in your shed, so that you can light up that fire in you again.

Juliet Juliet describes the value of survivor leadership for befriending others

Befriending other survivors is a good thing: If I befriend survivors, it may not be the same experience they have had as me, but I understand their pain, their hurt, everything they are going through. I became a survivor leader because I know that other survivors need support after all they have been through.

If you are a non-survivor and you are speaking to a survivor, you may understand where they are coming from, but you don’t know what they are going through….being a part of survivor community, getting to know other survivors, you can help each other, you can motivate each other, because all you need is patience and understanding. We all cope differently; we don’t need to be told what to do, or how to do it – we want to learn how to cope and we need support from each other.