My logophile friend, whom I cannot convince to post here, reminded me of the word "entelechy." According to AHD, it means a vital force that directs an organism toward self-fulfillment. In other words, the human being is able to reach self-actualization, high on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Yet, I wonder what that "vital force that directs the organism" is. I don't get it.

The great thing about Wordcraft is the invitation to just follow a thread...

Dictionary.com tells us:

en·tel·e·chy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-tl-k) n. pl. en·tel·e·chies
In the philosophy of Aristotle, the condition of a thing whose essence is fully realized; actuality.
In some philosophical systems, a vital force that directs an organism toward self-fulfillment.

The etymology is interesting:

From Greek entelekheia : entels, complete (en-, in; see en-2 + telos, completion; see kwel-1 in Indo-European Roots) + ekhein, to have; see segh- in Indo-European Roots.]

In other words, to have completion. Or, when we look from the Teutontic side of English -- fulfillment.

So in life, after all the needs are met, there is still room for that level of satisfaction. Which last word, reverting to the Latin side of English, share a root facere, to make.

Maybe to be happy, we just need to keep busy.

Oh, yes, Robert, that makes sense! That all fits into Maslow's theory of human needs, with self-actualization being at the top of the hierarchy.