Positive Psychology Course— Transcendence: The Need to Lead a Meaningful Life

To lead a meaningful life, we have to develop a coherent narrative about who we are and how we got to be that way. We need to evaluate the good and bad of our experiences and how they shaped us.

Transcendence is one of six virtues that subcategorize the 24 strengths that are discussed in positive psychology programs. Transcendence describes strengths that help you connect to the larger universe and provide meaning to one’s life the other strengths under Transcendence are: the appreciation of beauty & excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality.

I’ve first heard of transcendence in talks that involve inspiration or leaving legacies that goes beyond time— how they took that shift to be able to rise above oneself.

In This Article:

Meaning of Transcendence
In Psychology
Maslow’s Secret Peak
Self Transcendence Theory
In Positive Psychology Training
Spirituality
Measuring Self Transcendence
Kinds of Transcendence
Traits of Self-Transcended People
How to Reach Transcendence

Meaning of Transcendence

Shifting to rise is like taking the big leap of faith. The faith involves looking into ourselves and believing that there is more to us than the personal limits that we impose on ourselves. As human beings we have these different boundaries that we set, it’s good to know where the line is, but as successful people are, they took that leap beyond the line and they discovered that it was one way for them to be able to live more,

Transcendence in simple words is realizing that yourself is part of a bigger picture and aligning one’s actions to going beyond one’s imposed limitations and acting according to the greater whole.
Rising or going above oneself can be a range of things: going beyond human emotions, thoughts, experiences, going above nature, the universe or achieving divinity which is greater than the self.

In Psychology

It is mentioned as one of the virtues in a positive psychology course Self-transcendence has been a part of an existing concept or theory in psychology and has been around for quite a while above the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and even has a theory made about it (Reed, 1991).

Maslow’s Secret Peak

Abraham Maslow on Self-Transcendence and Needs

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most popular concept in humanistic psychology which discusses how needs are achieved in a hierarchical order; as lower needs are fulfilled, we’re motivated to pursue and meet higher level (growth) needs, like self-actualization; physiological needs are vital for survival and that they must be sated before one can move up towards actualization and fulfillment. In Maslow’s first model, self-actualization — the fulfillment of one’s potential — is the highest level of development.

Not everyone knows that Maslow revised it in his later years. In his later thinking, Maslow argued that there is a higher level of development, which is essentially the pinnacle of human experience. He called this self-transcendence which was now brought and made as a new peak of his needs hierarchy illustration (it is now on the top of self-actualization).

Indicated in his early work, Maslow considered self-actualization the highest point of human development and the highest human need: the realization of one’s full potential. Self-actualization is indeed a worthy goal of development, but in his revision, self-transcendence is truly the “next level” of development; it is not self-focuses and concerns higher goals than those which are self-serving.

Self-transcendence can be achieved by focusing on things other than the self like altruism, spiritual awakening, liberation from egocentricity, and the unity of being.

“Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and the cosmos” (Maslow, 1971, p. 269).

According to Maslow, self-transcendence brings the individual what he termed “peak experiences” in which they transcend their concerns and see from a higher perspective. These experiences often bring strong positive emotions like joy, peace, and a well-developed sense of awareness (Messerly, 2017). Someone who is highly self-transcendent may also experience “plateau experiences” in which they consistently maintain or enter a state of serenity and a higher perspective (Messerly, 2017).

Maslow’s addition of self-transcendence to the pyramid is not always noted in the literature when his theory is cited, but it has managed to make its way through the research community nonetheless. It has been considered quite frequently in many research threads but is perhaps most prominent in the nursing research community.

Self Transcendence Theory

Pamela Reed’s Self Transcendence Theory

To put Pamela Reed’s theory in simple words, self-transcendence is something that can be achieved as people choose to go beyond the limitations and boundaries that they imposed on themselves.

Going beyond the boundaries is also about expanding the personal dimension and this expansion of boundaries involves the inclusion of more of one’s environment and also the inclusion of human beings.

• • This nursing theory has three important core concepts, one is self-transcendence; the other two are:
  • Vulnerability: the awareness of one’s mortality that develops with age, health issues, and crises.
  • Well-being: the sense of being healthy, whole, and generally fulfilled and satisfied with one’s state.

These three concepts are vital pieces of the three major hypotheses of Reed’s theory:

1. 1. Older adults (especially those nearing the end of their life) are found to have generally higher self-transcendence than younger people
   2. The boundaries we impose on ourselves can fluctuate, and may likely affect well-being as it fluctuates.
   3. The relationship between vulnerability, self-transcendence, and well-being is affected and can be changed by a person’s traits, characteristics and the environment in which they are situated.

This theory has mostly been accepted by the nursing community, and research has shown that self-transcendence plays an integral role in healing and dignified acceptance of the end of life.
One of the major ways in which self-transcendence can impact end-of-life experience is through spirituality.

In Positive Psychology Training

Transcendence is one of the topics that will be taken in a positive psychology training program. Positive psychology as introduced by Martin Seligman,

• • encourages the ‘positives’ (thoughts, emotions, traits, attitudes, experiences, etc.),
  • deviated from ‘psychology as usual (which focused mainly on ‘negative’ experiences and qualities, dysfunction and disorder)
  • regarded negative states and experiences as unwanted, and thus people should aim to avoid these; encouraged ‘positive’ qualities as it was said to be beneficial and should therefore be sought.

But through the years it has developed a second wave which then took into account the loopholes that the initial positive psychology wave had. The skepticisms about the first wave are justifiable, and as with every thought movement, it is normal it would evolve into something more reasonable.

This second wave offers a more logical take of finding happiness through the positives. It does not mean that the first wave was less logical, it only showed that it has room for improvements and to accommodate a more comprehensive take. One of its best features is the introduction of transcendence through self-awareness. This is a fresh dimension in psychology that incorporates spirituality.

Spirituality

As discussed previously, transcendence is an expansion of one’s consciousness and it is exactly how spirituality can be related to it.

Going beyond oneself can mean it is divine or spiritual. Some achieve self-transcendence through their faith and some thought a set of spiritual values that they adhere to. Their sense of spirituality helps them find meaning that then becomes their step to help them achieve transcendence. Research has shown that elderly patients’ well-being was positively influenced by caregiver’s spirituality.

Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl discussed that transcendence is rooted in our spirituality, and spirituality is the part of humanity that separates us from all other species.

Researchers today note that spirituality is not a prerequisite for self-transcendence but it can be one of the ways to achieve it.

Measuring Self Transcendence

Positive psychology programs can provide some resources to help measure the construct of self-transcendence. Measuring it can be tricky but can be done indirectly and directly.

• Indirectly (through intensifying spirituality, inner motivation, and relating with something beyond oneself)
• Directly through scales like Self-transcendence scale and Cloningers self-transcendence scale.

Below are two scales that can be used to measure self-transcendence:

Self-Transcendence Scale

The Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) developed by Pamela Reed in 1986, consists of 15 items adapted from the Developmental Resources of Later Adulthood (DRLA) scale. It is one-dimensional, and looks only into a broad sense of self-transcendence— measuring this construct by inquiring the on several characteristics of a mature life.

The items are rated 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much) corresponding to how well they describe the respondent. A score of 1 indicating the lowest possible level of self-transcendence and 4 indicating the greatest possible level of self-transcendence. The following are just some of the items:

• Letting others help me when I may need it.
• Adjusting well to changes in my physical abilities.
• Being involved with other people or my community when possible.
• Able to move beyond things that once seemed so important.

This scale has proven to be adequately valid and reliable and is a good choice for researchers interested in measuring self-transcendence (Haugan, Rannestad, Garåsen, Hammervold, & Espnes, 2011; Reed, 1986).

Cloninger’s Self-Transcendence Scale

This scale is within Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI; 1993)as a part of the Character portion of the TCI, measuring “self-concepts and individual differences in goals and values, which influence voluntary choices, intentions, and the meaning and salience of what is experienced in life” (Cloninger, 2015).

The self-transcendence scale specifically measures “the extent to which individuals conceive themselves as integral parts of the universe as a whole” (Cloninger, 2015). Those with high self-transcendence are thought to be more spiritual, unpretentious, humble, and fulfilled than those who are low in self-transcendence.

This scale can only be accessed through Cloninger’s website, and its usage requires certain training for researchers and certification for clinicians.

Characteristics and Kinds of Transcendence

There are three kinds of transcendence.

(1) Ego transcendence (self: beyond ego) this is transcendence that makes one see reality with greater objectivity.

(2) Self-transcendence (beyond the self: the other), this is the expansion of personal boundaries.

(3) Spiritual transcendence (beyond space and time) can be achieved through religious practices and other exercises to achieve divinity.

Traits of Self-Transcended People

Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, survival experience in WWII gave him a higher purpose in life. He experienced lots of suffering, and if we go back to Maslow’s Hierarchy, only some something even none of his needs was met. But as he saw the big picture and how he fit into it, he was able to put his own needs and interests aside.

Most of the camp prisoners yielded to misery and human brutality, that they succumbed their fight for their life, their sense of freedom, and their self. However, some prisoners seemed to maintain even further developed their sense of self and find or reaffirm their life’s purpose. These rare individuals are another case study in self-transcendence.

Self-transcendence is Maslow’s highest level on the hierarchy of needs on his last revision of this pyramid.

• Before transcending, you need to be self-actualized first.
• Self-transcended people are founded on caring for others and higher ideals.

To be able to learn the traits are of self-transcendence, we’re going to first climb through the stages of self-actualization in Maslow’s pyramid.

Self-actualization before self-transcendence

The pyramid of our needs is a step-by-step guide that notes how our basic needs to be met, before dealing with our emotional matters and finally achieving our greatest potential through self-actualization.

I learned from the positive psychology programs that I took that once someone has reached their potential, they can begin using their skills, talents, and insights in service to others.

Here are some of the common traits of self-transcended people.

1. 1. A will to find meaning in their lives

Finding meaning to our lives is akin to Maslow’s hierarchy which has the end goal of reaching higher states of emotional and spiritual consciousness. Having lots of goals that we wish to achieve like power, love, money, or something in between.

Despite all these goals a self-transcended person still seeks meaning in their life. And it is an idea that’s been the core of much more profound religious and philanthropic groups for centuries now.

Those who seek the greatest transcended version of ourselves seek something greater than just being an individual, whether it be seeking a concept of God or altruistically serving others.

1. 2. Offering something to the world

Self-transcended people involve in work to assists others. This could be a means for them to use their individual (self-actualized) ability to produce something with value to society at large. This could be the leaving legacies that surpass the time.

Their “legacy” doesn’t need to be too grand, but it has to be made meaningfully by the individual, it’s like doing something not just for the sake of it but instead doing it to bring happiness, growth, and beauty to someone or a group of people in the world.

1. 3. Aware and conscious of the beauty in the world

Someone who has experienced self-transcendence is attentive to the scenic and wonderful things in existence. This can be associated with the practice of mindfulness.

1. 4. Change of attention from the self to also accommodating the well-being of others

This idea is the core of self-transcendence, letting go of one’s ego and encouraging love, acceptance, and caring for a greater reason or person.

1. 5. Change for the motivation of values

Those who have achieved self-transcendence find themselves no longer find external motivation, external rewards and demands important, but are rather motivated intrinsically (like feeling the reward for an activity is the activity itself)

1. 6. Experiencing elevated emotions– these higher-order emotions are triggered by all three of the characteristics described above; these emotions include awe, ecstasy, amazement, feeling uplifted, feeling elevated, etc.
   7. An increase in morality – self-transcendence brings with it a more severe emphasis on doing what is right.

A high moral code is needed in pursuing decisions and goals. These kinds of morals will differ as they’re still subject to cultural or theological based moral laws. Although, you’ll find those with this trait are more likely to hit upon values and ethic systems that transcend the boundaries of upbringing.

How to Reach Transcendence

Now that you have ideas on what transcendence is like here discusses are ways on how to reach transcendence:

1. You need to know and discover the things that put you into a state of peace or “theta” (the phase just between being asleep and awake) and use it to enter the inspirational and expanded state more often.
2. Exercise meditation can be done by sitting or lying down or through mindful activities (mindful eating, mindful photography, etc.).
3. Find time to be creative, let it lead you to inspiration, new experiences, and self-transcendence.
4. Make a journal, writer, or not so you can keep track of your thoughts and feelings onto paper to dissect and separate yourself from them.
5. Find time to be outside and get close to nature to find inspiration, healing, and perhaps a sense of transcendence through nature.
6. Reflect, acknowledge, and address the worst emotions, experience, and thoughts and never forget to also look at the best in us.
7. Practice the pursuit of excellence—in everything you do, whoever and wherever you go in your life. Remember to give your best no, matter what as it’s not stepping into others.

Rising above ourselves is the goal after finding meaning in our lives. Positive psychology programs that incorporate interventions that touch into spirituality (like meditation, mindfulness practices, etc.) are just some of the ways for us to reach transcendence.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs showed that after finding meaning and purpose for our lives we have to transcend, and it is the last need that we have— the need to lead a meaningful life.

If you have any questions, you can comment below, feel free to share the ways that you do to lead a meaningful life! I would love to learn from you too.

How Life Coach Training Transformed Me

We now go back to the confirmatory findings of Atkinson that was mention earlier in this article:

“… those with higher motivation to accomplish tasks are more affected by tasks that they have not completed and would be more likely to remember them. By contrast, if one is less motivated, the incomplete status of a task be would be of less concern and so less memorable to them.”

My life coach training helped me realize that I was so motivated (high motivation) to find validation of my worth from my partner (task), the breakup curtailed my pursuit of that justification (state of incompletion)

I was trapped in thoughts of inadequacy, I kept remembering that I couldn’t find that validation. And boy was I wrong!

I WAS WRONG because I was focused on seeking support for my esteem from others— I was wrong to put that sense of responsibility to others. My training taught me that I am accountable for myself, I should be in charge of fulfilling my needs by looking first at what I have. I am my liability,

I kept myself from progress because I was not looking at the bigger picture of how I should be answerable to myself. I was months behind taking a step towards growth because I didn’t want to abandon the thought that I need others for validation.

I looked into myself with a new sense as I was taking the course. I started to plot my specific goals and took actions that are parallel to its achievement. I looked at the things I have that I could use, and the things I still need to improve to reach my ambition.

I invested my motivation in my goal of being able to participate in an art exhibit. I found a mentor, diversified my connections, attended workshops, explored mediums and styles, and practiced now and then. I reached my goal in the second year of my pursuit.

I used the “mind-nagging” feature of the Zeigarnik effect to keep me focused and reminded about my goal. It took me a while but the ‘pestering and constant” reminder of the things I need to prepare and experience to achieve my dream kept my eyes on the prize. I kept taking steps to reach my objective.

Away from Nagging Tasks: How to Stop the Anxiety

Whenever the Zeigarnik effect takes a toll on you to bring anxiety, I learned from coaching that you can try the following to help you through this:

• As a probable cause for anxiety would be unfinished business/unfinished tasks or deep unresolved issues from your past, try to identify them, list them down Sometimes these unresolved issues go way back, go include it. Break them down into little parts that you can resolve.
• This mental nagging can make one focus on the bad rather than look at the other good things that have happened, so try to be grateful. Practice kindness and gratitude.
• You ruminate about imaginary scenarios that have not happened yet (which causes worry or overthinking), looking too far into the future of a fabricated situation makes your mind label it as an “unfinished task”. You can try focusing on the present ( you can try practicing mindfulness), what you can do now to prevent or bring to fruition the future that you want.
• Finding closure. Anxiety-inducing memories like trauma or abuse keep coming into mind is the way that your brain tries to make sense of things. Forgiving is a big factor. It brings you to an awareness and understanding that you were not the one with the issue, but they were, or that maybe it’s the both of you. Forgive them and yourself and move forward.