Self-realization is an underlying desire in every human being. Self-realization is manifested at its most fundamental level in the urge to reproduce and secure the survival of human beings. All living things have the instinct to reproduce since they wouldn't be able to survive without it. However, the reproduction impulse is only one of the many aspects that make up the Self-Realization Instinct (SRI). For example, the drive to reproduce motivates salmon fishes to swim in the ocean to make the long, laborious, and extremely risky trip upstream to reach their spawning and fertilization sites. They do their best to protect the eggs before dying. This instinct occasionally pushes animals to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their offspring.

The drive to leave an impact in the world, the urge to stand out or be distinctive in any way, the ambition to achieve something, the search for purpose, meaning, or a cause for existence, and more are all manifestations of SRI among humans. Self-realization can also be seen in accepting and adopting strange or radical beliefs and ideologies.