Embracing Transcendence: Elevating Everyday Experiences

The Journey: Level up meaning, connection, and joy in your everyday life?

Are there moments in your life that stand out in vivid technicolor in your memory? A transcendent moment in my life that I’ll never forget is the first time I saw the northern lights. I lay on my back next to my friend as we stared up into the summer sky, transfixed by the vibrant colors. Maya Angelou (among others) has been credited as saying that “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Such moments can be brief but leave a lasting impact on our lives, bringing a greater understanding and appreciation for the world around us and deepening our connections to those around us.?

A growing body of research indicates that self-transcendent mental states like awe, joy, flow, inspiration, and wonder are necessary for personal and professional thriving. These experiences are measurable and powerful. They add magic to the mundane and infuse meaning into everyday moments. Transcendence means to go beyond ordinary limitations, reaching a state where one moves beyond physical needs and realities. It’s the act of rising above and beyond to a superior state or a sense of connection to something larger than oneself. As humans we crave this! Studies link transcendent experiences to increased levels of energy, creativity, mental focus and decreased levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and loneliness.?

Transcendent experiences aren’t limited to our personal lives; they can also be incorporated into the workplace to promote well-being. New research by Mercer indicates “having fun at work” is a key driver of employee thriving. Experiencing self-transcendent states such as joy at work can help employees be more productive, get along better with their coworkers, and solve problems more effectively.

Here are three ways you can foster transcendence at home:

1. Increase time in nature: Connecting with nature is one of the most common ways to experience transcendence in our everyday lives. It requires us to simply slow down and savor the color of the sky, the scent of a flower, or the feel of a gentle breeze.?
2. Increase your exposure to art: Seeking out art, poetry, music, and other elements that move us emotionally can be a gateway to transcendent experiences.
3. Incorporate moments for mindfulness and meditation: Look for opportunities to embed brief moments of mindfulness into your daily schedule. Focus on your breath, a mantra, how your body is feeling, or what you are experiencing in the present moment. A growing number of mobile apps support development of a consistent practice that will help you experience the greatest benefit.

Here are four ways you can foster transcendence in the workplace:?

1. Avoid multitasking and practice mono-tasking: Mindfulness is about practicing presence, which means focusing our full attention on what is happening in the present moment. Start small and identify regular opportunities to focus your full attention on what you are doing.??
2. Encourage and support volunteerism: Volunteerism can help us connect more deeply to a purpose we care about and when done in the company of others who share our concern, can connect us with something bigger than ourselves. Organizations can help employees find opportunities to volunteer and can create policies that allow employees to volunteer for a set number of hours during paid work time.?
3. Limit distractions: Silence your phone, turn off email or social media notifications, or wear headphones as a signal to others that you do not wish to be disturbed. Set a 20-30 minute timer, and savor the opportunity to do some deeper level work that requires sustained concentration. This makes the transcendent state of flow more likely.
4. Practice Gratitude: You might consider creating a month-long challenge that encourages team members to share daily moments of gratitude. This encourages us to focus our attention on the things we appreciate in our lives and in one another.?

A growing body of work points to the importance of creating rituals that help us transform everyday moments into experiences to savor and appreciate. Like savoring the first sip of freshly brewed coffee or the 10-minute informal conversation you have with a colleague at the start of a standing meeting. When we’re intentional about creating practices that inject joy into our day, it promotes our ability to show up as our best selves: more thoughtful, less reactive, more open, curious, and committed to a growth mindset.?

Explore: Foster Transcendence?

Here are some recommended resources to foster transcendence in your life:?

• Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-Being Science. Well-being On-demand Toolkit
• J Grossmeier. 2022. Psychology Today. Harbor Happiness During Hard Times: Creating Everyday Rituals
• A. T. Kearney. 2019. Harvard Business Review. Making Joy a Priority at Work
• L. Kim. Inc. 10 Mindfulness Techniques to Practice at Home . 10 Mindfulness Techniques to Practice at Work.
• UC-Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. Keys to Well-Being

The Road Ahead: See you in Chicago next month!?

On August 25th, I’ll be joining inspiring Michelle Segar , Kristen Hadeed , Angela R. Howard , and Edwardo Sanchez as speakers at the Annual Wellness Summit in Chicago. I’ll be speaking on the topic of “Mundane to Magic,” where I’ll share insights on how to foster joy and create a culture of well-being. Learn more and register here.

For those who cannot attend the Annual Wellness Summit, check out the free webcast interview on my session.?

If you’re interested in learning more about my keynote topics, watch my new speaker video! It was a labor of love, and I’m excited to share it with the world.

About Jessica

Jessica Grossmeier, PhD, MPH is an award-winning researcher, speaker, and author of Reimagining Workplace Well-being . She is a leading voice in workforce well-being and was recently recognized as one of the most influential leaders in health promotion. Jessica currently works with employers and well-being service providers to identify evidence-based practices to support employee well-being and foster a culture of health. Access Jessica’s resources and join her email list, here: jessicagrossmeier.com/resources