You Don't Know How This Feeling I've Got Feels
November 8, 2008 6:16 PM Subscribe
Is there a word (maybe in German?) that means, "feeling like you are exactly who you want to be"?
I don't think "self-actualized" is quite it. Thanks, Metafilter!
I don't think "self-actualized" is quite it. Thanks, Metafilter!
Response by poster: OK, that cracked me up.
That seems to have a negative connotation; I was looking for something more positive. "Self-actualized" is positive, but I'm not thinking Maslow, exactly. Too awkward.
posted by fiercecupcake at 6:58 PM on November 8, 2008
That seems to have a negative connotation; I was looking for something more positive. "Self-actualized" is positive, but I'm not thinking Maslow, exactly. Too awkward.
posted by fiercecupcake at 6:58 PM on November 8, 2008
Best answer: I don't think Selbstgefälligkeit is quite it. Selbstgefälligkeit means a kind of smug self-satisfaction. Taken to an extreme it becomes egomania (krankhafte Selbstgefälligkeit). Selbstzufriedenheit (lit. "being happy or content with oneself") is probably closer to your meaning.
Along those lines, shalom and salaam have elements of being at peace with oneself, though that's not the primary meaning.
posted by jedicus at 7:01 PM on November 8, 2008
Along those lines, shalom and salaam have elements of being at peace with oneself, though that's not the primary meaning.
posted by jedicus at 7:01 PM on November 8, 2008
Best answer: More philosophically, perhaps ataraxia or eudaimonia.
posted by jedicus at 7:09 PM on November 8, 2008
posted by jedicus at 7:09 PM on November 8, 2008
I would refer to it as "smugness".
posted by Class Goat at 7:45 PM on November 8, 2008
posted by Class Goat at 7:45 PM on November 8, 2008
Stoned.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:03 PM on November 8, 2008
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:03 PM on November 8, 2008
Selbstgefälligkeit doesn't work for me. I take that to indicate complacency or smugness.
Selbstzufriedenheit seems closer to me. it, too can be translated as complacency and perhaps a little bit as indifference but since it includes zufrieden (content, happy, pleased, satisfied) it's much more likely people will understand what you're trying to say.
posted by krautland at 12:08 AM on November 9, 2008
Selbstzufriedenheit seems closer to me. it, too can be translated as complacency and perhaps a little bit as indifference but since it includes zufrieden (content, happy, pleased, satisfied) it's much more likely people will understand what you're trying to say.
posted by krautland at 12:08 AM on November 9, 2008
Best answer: I'm only semi-bilingual in Japanese, but their word 'juncho' :
順調 [じゅんちょう] /(adj-na,n) favourable/doing well/O.K./all right/(P)/
instantly came to mind.
順 basically means 'order' and 調 means things like 'being in tune'.
posted by troy at 12:24 AM on November 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
順調 [じゅんちょう] /(adj-na,n) favourable/doing well/O.K./all right/(P)/
instantly came to mind.
順 basically means 'order' and 調 means things like 'being in tune'.
posted by troy at 12:24 AM on November 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Copasetic? No, not German... but still communicates the idea and is well known ;)
posted by chrisinseoul at 8:18 AM on November 9, 2008
posted by chrisinseoul at 8:18 AM on November 9, 2008
Not eudaimonia. Eudaemonia is an objective state: you can "feel like" you're eudaimon and be wrong. And "who you want to be" has nothing to do with it; it's the same for everyone. At least that's what Plato and Aristotle think.
posted by Great Insect Task Force Comet Ranger at 9:00 AM on November 9, 2008
posted by Great Insect Task Force Comet Ranger at 9:00 AM on November 9, 2008
So as far as "self-actualized" goes, eudaemonia doesn't mean that, but it could be taken to mean simply "actualized."
posted by Great Insect Task Force Comet Ranger at 9:03 AM on November 9, 2008
posted by Great Insect Task Force Comet Ranger at 9:03 AM on November 9, 2008
Best answer: It's not a single word, but the French expression "etre bien dans sa peau" (to be well/feel good in one's own skin) has this meaning, and I think it puts it very nicely. It exists in English as "comfortable in one's own skin", but I don't think it took off; I've never heard it used, anyway.
posted by pocams at 11:36 AM on November 9, 2008
posted by pocams at 11:36 AM on November 9, 2008
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posted by dunkadunc at 6:23 PM on November 8, 2008 [2 favorites]