Attempting to secure the satisfaction of self-actualization does not always end in the desired outcome, it may even end in regret. When it comes to making decisions we tend to be of the opinion of what we think is right at that moment without considering the consequences of the desire we choose to pursue. We see the attempt to ensure one's satisfaction in the short story The Painted Door, written by Sinclair Ross. This story shows how a loving husband, John, who works so hard day and night so that his wife, Ann, can be happy and satisfied with life, but we end up seeing his loneliness and his longing for someone to fulfill his other needs take over her. it causes her to try to satisfy herself. This decision may have satisfied her temporarily, but it ended in regret. Ross is clearly describing that all the decisions you make when you need complacency are not worth the risk. Individuals' attempt to secure the satisfaction of self-actualization may, in some cases, later turn into the realization of regret. You may feel obligated to do something to satisfy yourself. In the short text, The Painted Door, we see the author, Sinclair Ross, represent the sense of self-satisfaction in the relationship with selfishness. At the beginning of the text, we read how Ann experiences feelings of contemplation between being selfish and stopping John from going to check on her father, and letting him go. He later realizes that he seems too selfish, so he keeps adding "don't pay attention to me" to his dialogue. This selfishness is also a representation of how Ann wants to satisfy her self-fulfillment by making John stay with her and pay attention to her instead of leaving him out in the cold, increasing the invisible gap between them. Ann's selfishness is also the reason for her attitude towards Steven, she knows that her actions and decisions were wrong but she still wants a way to fulfill her desires and since Steven seems to have a similar mindset, Ann sees this as a 'opportunity. Her selfishness in this context helped her achieve her desires, even though it may not have been the best way to do so. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The desire for self-actualization is something I have personally experienced multiple times throughout my life. On most occasions, this desire was fulfilled by doing something that I knew wasn't right, but the impulse was very powerful and instead of holding my head high, I gave in and gave way to my satisfaction. An experience of this feeling was described a few years ago. I was in the middle of my prayer, a very religious practice, and I knew what was wrong and what was right. In Islam, when we pray, we should not be distracted and our full attention should be on the task at hand. As I prayed, I felt my phone vibrate with a notification from a friend I was having a conversation with. In good conscience, I knew that if I looked away or took my attention away from the prayer, it would not be accepted; the prayer would be incomplete/broken. I felt the sudden urge to continue the conversation instead of completing the prayer, so I grabbed my phone and texted back. I was satisfied with myself the moment I satisfied my momentary desires. Later that day, I felt enormous regret for taking an incorrect action, but it felt right in that moment, similar to how Ann felt when she experienced the tension between.