Better self. Better world. ? Everest Blog

Illustration by Mads Burcharth

?I believe there?s a common misconception with realizing one?s potential.

It seems that many people think of this topic as a rather self-centered pursuit ? as if bettering oneself was being done simply for the sake of oneself.

Maybe it?s because ideas about the topic are often characterized by terms revolving around the individual: E.g.?self-improvement,?personaldevelopment,?self-efficacy,?personal?growth,?self-help, etc?

Yet despite the vocabulary, the people we consider to have realized high-levels of their potential, are often the ones who make the most meaningful contributions to society.

Robert Cloninger?and?Viktor Frankl, two psychiatrists who built upon?Abraham Maslow?s theories of self-actualization, both came to the conclusion that beyond self-actualization exists self-transcendence. They believed that once you reach self-fulfillment and realize your own potential, you begin to connect to something beyond the ego and help others find self-fulfillment and realize their potential.

Tribal Leadership, which was written after an 8-year rigorous study on 24,000 individuals, also reported observations that people who have reached a high level of their potential often experience an ?epiphany? in which they realize their inherent need to contribute to a purpose greater than themselves.

Reaching for ones potential is ultimately about transcending the self and making a meaningful contribution ? not about self-centered improvement.

There are few, if any, better ways I can think of to improve those around us, our environment, and the world at large than to unlock one?s own potential.

How is a person to create her best work, if she herself is not at her best?

How is a person to truly lead if she is not worthy of being followed?

Unlocking one?s own potential is where the journey starts, but beyond that exists an entire world of human potential waiting to be unlocked.

Better?self. Better?world.

Let?s not forget the second part.

Victor

Source: http://blog.evr.st/better-self-better-world/

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