Women with Stage IV breast cancer describe experiences of self-transcendence that increase their sense of self-worth, purpose, and connection with others. Five women who had lived with metastatic disease from 2 to 7 years reached out to help other women, allowed others to help them, or accepted unchangeable situations. These experiences helped them find meaning in life despite a life-threatening illness. Nurses may foster conditions that allow such experiences to occur.
Self-transcendence perspectives are present in a healthy middle-aged population at levels similar to those previously observed in elderly well persons and those with life-threatening illness. In a sample of 152 people averaging 46 years old, self-transcendence showed moderate correlations with female gender, older age, and higher self-reported health status. Strong correlations emerged between self-transcendence and sense of coherence, self-esteem, hope, and measures of emotional well-being.
Self-transcendence—reaching beyond personal boundaries—may serve as a resource for healing in people facing end-of-life issues from aging or life-threatening illness. It can foster a sense of well-being through an intensified awareness of wholeness and integration across all dimensions of being. This paper draws on clinical and empirical literature to propose a link between self-transcendence and healing, and suggests approaches nurses can use to facilitate self-transcendence.