“The more one forgets himself—by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love—the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. Self-actualization is possible only as a side effect of self-transcendence.”
- Viktor Frankl
The Why
Meaningful work can be highly motivational, leading to improved performance, commitment, and satisfaction.
The Tips
1. Discover what puts you into “theta” (the quiet and peaceful state just between asleep
and awake) and harness it to enter the inspirational and expanded state more often.
2. Practice meditation, whether through the stereotypical sitting on a cushion with
crossed legs or through mindful activities (mindful listening, mindful walking, mindful
eating, etc.).
3. Make time to get creative, and allow it to lead to inspiration, new experiences, and self-transcendence.
4. Keep a journal, even if you’re not a strong writer—especially if you’re not a strong
writer. Put your thoughts and feelings onto paper to separate yourself from them.
5. Engage in “shadow work”—make time to reflect and dive into your deepest, darkest
parts. It’s vital to acknowledge and address that which is worst in us as well as that
which is best in us.
6. Practice excellence—in whatever you do, wherever you go, whoever you’re within your
day-to-day life. It doesn’t really matter what it is (as long as it’s not harmful to anyone),
all that matters is that you’re doing what you do well (Eckl, 2017).
The Resources
http://www.drpaulwong.com/self-transcendence-paradoxical-way/
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/what-makes-work-meaningful-or-meaningless/