Individualism or individuality: what is a sign of a person's spiritual maturity?

Both words - individualism and individuation - mean becoming an individual. However, only the latter refers to an individuality to which the words "becoming oneself" can also be applied.

Becoming is understood as becoming the innermost, finite and unique uniqueness of each one of us. It is a process that leads to the realisation of unity and wholeness, which in turn is a sign of spiritual maturity.

Why do I think it is important to reflect these differences between individualism and individualisation?

For while spirituality is about individuality, in our cultural space spiritual practices are currently being used to cultivate the other - individualism.

I hope this material will help you to understand the differences and to begin to recognise that not everyone who tells the public that the Universe is talking to them is talking about spirituality. 

Individualism:

• alienation from the self (self-alienation);
• individualism emphasises the difference between human beings and other beings;
• Individualism is about standing out among others;
• individualistic goals usually reflect the collective unconscious understanding of values (currently e.g. material wealth, external achievements, visual attractiveness, etc.);
• individualism is centred on personal gain (self-centred rewards);
• striving for independence, based on the idea of being able to cope with everything by oneself (e.g. creating one's own reality);
• individualism is about results - achieving a goal.

Individualisation:

• self-realisation (self-realization);
• individuality emphasises the relationship of each human being to other beings and the mutual equivalence of beings;
• The goal of individuation is to gradually let go of the superfluous self (persona, mask, false self-image), thus revealing the authentic self;
• The goal of individuation is to gradually separate from the self-gestating force of the collective unconscious;
• individuality is driven by an understanding of the consequences of one's actions on the functioning of society;
• understanding human autonomy includes a healthy perception of the interdependence between members of society;
• at the heart of individuation is a never-ending process of becoming oneself.

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