Self-transcendence, the value of going beyond one’s own self

Self-transcendence is a concept that is closely linked to spirituality and has gained popularity in recent decades. Although it is considered a complex characteristic of our personality and each of us may have a different conception of it according to our values, it is true that there is a general idea underlying this term.

In essence, self-transcendence means transcending the self (rise above the self), that is, go beyond one’s own identity and understand that we are a small part of a greater whole and act accordingly. A complex phenomenon that is in tune with the vision of oneself as an integral part of the universe.

Self-transcendence and spirituality

Self-transcendence and spirituality are intimately connected. In fact, one of the inherent qualities of self-transcendence is the expansion of consciousness beyond the self, that is, towards something higher, more complex and infinite that is usually divine or spiritual in nature.

Some people get self-transcendence through their faith in God, while others may achieve it through the recognition of some type of spirituality or idea about the soul. In one way or another, these types of beliefs and conceptions help people find the meaning that will drive them to transcend.

According to the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, transcendence is rooted in our spirituality, and spirituality is the part of humanity that separates us from all other species. One cannot become a fully realized and “complete” person until one is able to transcend oneself, to understand one’s place in the higher order of things.

Thus, it is worth noting that, although today’s researchers generally do not adhere to the idea that spirituality is a necessity to achieve self-transcendence, for many it is a significant aspect of it.

Abraham Maslow and self-transcendence

For many years, self-actualization dominated Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs. In fact, In his early work, Maslow considered self-actualization to be the pinnacle of human development.being the greatest human need.

In fact, self-realization is a lofty goal worthy of development that should not be left aside. However andl true goal, the “next level” of development, should be self-transcendence: a goal that focuses on others, instead of focusing on oneself; which refers to higher goals than those that focus on self-interest.

According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, “transcendence refers to the highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to others, to human beings.” in general, to other species, to nature and to the cosmos.”

In this sense, Self-transcendence provides the individual with what Maslow called peak experiences, those in which personal concerns are transcended to observe what happens from a broader and higher perspective. These are experiences that often generate strong positive emotions such as joy or peace and a well-developed sense of awareness.

It is important to mention that Maslow’s incorporation of the concept of self-transcendence into the pyramid is not always mentioned when his theory is cited. However, little by little, it is beginning to be considered by the research community.

Reed’s theory of self-transcendence

Pamela Reed defines self-transcendence as the expansion of self-conceptual limits in a multidimensional way. According to this theory, People can be considered open systems whose only obstacle between them and self-transcendence is the limit they impose on themselves.

Of course, human beings need some conceptual boundaries, but The expansion of these limits outward causes a state of greater connection with the environment, in addition to promoting a feeling of wholeness, that could not be obtained otherwise.

Reed’s theory postulates that self-transcendence is a natural and desired stage of development, that people must achieve to feel satisfied and have a sense of purpose. Thus, one of the main ways that self-transcendence can affect the end-of-life experience is through spirituality.

Self-transcendence and personality: Cloninger

As we have seen, Self-transcendence is a personality trait associated with the experience of spiritual ideas. As such, self-transcendence is one of the personality dimensions assessed in the Cloninger Character Inventory.

In Cloninger’s seven-dimensional personality model, there are four temperament dimensions that have a strong biological basis and three learned character dimensions that are believed to be conceptually based. Self-transcendence is a character trait related to the experience of the spiritual aspects of the self. According to Cloninger, it can be described as spiritual acceptance, identification, or union with nature and its origin.

How to achieve self-transcendence

Achieving self-transcendence is not an easy path, since it represents the highest state of human development, beyond the self-realization that Maslow proposes. However, there are some things we can do to boost its development. In this sense, Stephanie Flood proposes five creative ways to achieve self-transcendence inspired by Buddhism:

Explore basic meditation techniques (even if you are an experienced meditator).Empower yourself with knowledge and wisdom to build awareness. Don’t be afraid of the journey, spiritually or physically, to find an idea.Find your own spiritual techniques that bring us closer to the higher purpose and the ideal self. Increase vibrations, living in a positive environment conducive to transcendence.

On the other hand, we cannot ignore the values ​​that Viktor Frankl pointed out to experience self-transcendence in everyday life. These values, which can be implemented by people from different cultures, are the following:

Creative value: giving something back to the world. This value involves deliberately engaging in creatively productive work. It means bringing unique talent and creative ideas to any work we do to produce some value or good for society or make a difference in the world.Experiential value: receiving something from the world with gratitude. Experiential value involves appreciating loving relationships and the beauty around us.Attitudinal value: taking a position towards the destination. Attitudinal courage involves the defiant power of the human spirit in facing adversity with courage or moral strength. The stoic attitude of maintaining dignity and integrity in the face of danger and hardship is the last line of defense in extracting a sense of freedom and meaning.

Chinese psychologist Paul Wong explains that When we step out of our own self-interest to serve something greater than ourselves, we are practicing self-transcendence. We become our best selves only when we become selfless and oriented to care for others.

So, regardless of our religious beliefs, Self-transcendence represents a way of spiritual life, that which satisfies our deepest spiritual needs for connectivity and transcendence.

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