Introduction
Many people seek “true change“ in their lives, whether on a personal, professional, or social level. However, real transformation does not occur simply by making a fleeting decision or having a temporary desire. Instead, it requires a “well-thought-out process“ and a deep understanding of the stages an individual goes through on their journey toward growth and development.
Change is not merely a “momentary event“; it is a “long journey“ that demands clear strategies, continuous commitment, and an understanding of human nature. For this reason, achieving “sustainable transformation“ requires going through four essential stages, where each level reinforces the individual’s progress step by step. These stages are:
1. “Self-Diagnosis“: The first step toward change, where an individual deeply analyzes their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to understand their strengths and weaknesses and identify the obstacles hindering their progress.
2. “Self-Control“: After diagnosis, the next step is to regulate oneself and manage habits and behaviors by focusing on “filtering, refining, and updating memory files“ to achieve greater personal discipline.
3. “Self-Transcendence“: This stage involves reaching a higher level of intellectual and emotional maturity, where an individual moves beyond superficial desires and starts searching for a deeper meaning in life by developing “emotional intelligence, practicing gratitude, and engaging in meaningful activities“.
4. “Self-Flow“: The final stage, where an individual attains “complete harmony between the mind, emotions, and body“, allowing them to achieve their goals effortlessly and without internal resistance, leading to greater productivity and creativity.
In this article, we will explore these four stages in detail and discuss how to apply them effectively in daily life. “If you seek true and lasting change، understanding these levels and working to achieve them is the key to a more balanced and successful life.“
Stage 1: Self-Diagnosis
1.1 Concept of Self-Diagnosis
Self-diagnosis is the first and most essential step in any transformation process. It is based on deep self-awareness and understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses, values, beliefs, and behaviors that impact daily life. Through this process, an individual can identify the factors that shape their personality, enabling them to make more informed decisions based on a deeper understanding of themselves.
Self-diagnosis is an introspective process aimed at unraveling the way the mind works, serving as a necessary starting point on the path to personal change. In this context, the book *”The Return to the First Praise of Worship”* offers a new perspective on understanding the cognitive process that dictates our actions and reactions.
1.2 Importance of Self-Diagnosis
Self-diagnosis forms the foundation of personal development because it helps individuals understand themselves more deeply, contributing to increased self-awareness and understanding of the factors influencing their behavior. Some of the main benefits of self-diagnosis include:
– “Identifying real barriers to change“: Self-diagnosis allows individuals to discover psychological and emotional obstacles preventing them from achieving personal and professional goals.
– “Empowering the individual to recognize available opportunities“: When a person understands their capabilities and skills, they become better equipped to effectively seize the opportunities that come their way.
– “Increasing self-awareness“: The more aware an individual is of their strengths and weaknesses, the better equipped they are to make informed decisions that align with their personal goals and values.
– “Improving quality of life“: Through self-diagnosis, an individual can achieve a better balance between different aspects of life, leading to improved mental and emotional well-being.
1.3 Tools for Self-Diagnosis
There are various tools and techniques that can be used to achieve effective self-diagnosis. Some of the most notable tools include:
– Life Wheel Technique
The Life Wheel is an effective tool for evaluating various aspects of personal and professional life. This wheel consists of several key areas such as health, work, relationships, personal development, and leisure. By assessing each area on a scale of 1 to 10, the individual can gain a clear view of the balance in their life and work on improving areas that need development.
– Psychological Sessions
Seeking the help of a psychologist or specialized counselor is an effective means of understanding the internal factors that influence thinking and behavior. Psychological sessions help uncover emotional and psychological issues that may hinder personal change.
– Consultation Sessions
Turning to consulting sessions, whether in personal development or life planning, can be helpful in determining the right directions in life. Through these sessions, the individual receives objective feedback that assists them in making sound decisions.
1.4 How to Apply Self-Diagnosis in Daily Life
– Daily Reflection and Thinking: Setting aside time each day for self-reflection helps enhance self-awareness and understand the challenges one faces.
– Journaling: Writing down feelings and thoughts is an excellent way to analyze daily thoughts and situations.
– Listening to Feedback: Asking for feedback from friends and colleagues helps see oneself from an external perspective.
– Analyzing Decisions and Behaviors: Reviewing past decisions and learning from experiences can contribute to improving decision-making.
1.5 Challenges in Self-Diagnosis
Despite the importance of self-diagnosis, there are several challenges that may hinder its effective implementation, including:
– Tendency to Deny: Some people find it difficult to face uncomfortable truths about themselves.
– Fear of Change: Realizing certain uncomfortable truths may trigger fear of making new decisions.
– Influence of Limiting Beliefs: Deeply ingrained beliefs can prevent an individual from seeing things clearly.
– Lack of Self-Awareness: Some people may not have the tools or skills to effectively analyze themselves.
Self-diagnosis is the first step on any journey toward personal change and self-development. By achieving deep self-awareness and understanding the factors that influence behaviors and beliefs, an individual can make informed decisions that lead to a more balanced and successful life. Using various tools and techniques, everyone can achieve a higher level of self-awareness and move confidently and clearly toward achieving their goals.
Stage 2: Self-Control
2.1 Concept of Self-Control
Self-control is the ability to manage and direct one’s behaviors and emotions in a way that enhances the achievement of personal and professional goals. It represents a crucial psychological skill that enables individuals to resist temptations, modify emotional responses, and make thoughtful decisions that benefit them in the long term.
Self-control requires a high level of self-awareness and discipline, as individuals learn to manage their reactions to different situations rather than acting impulsively based on habits or fleeting emotions. It is a key element of personal success, as it helps improve performance, increase productivity, and build healthy and stable relationships.
2.2 Importance of Self-Control
Self-control has multiple benefits, including:
– Overcoming Negative Habits: Through the ability to self-regulate, an individual can reduce or stop harmful behaviors such as procrastination, overeating, or spending excessive time on social media.
– Enhancing Willpower and Personal Discipline: Self-control allows individuals to make sound decisions that promote their growth and personal development, leading to the efficient achievement of goals.
– Effectively Facing Challenges: People with strong self-control are better able to handle stress and life challenges with flexibility and confidence.
2.3 Strategies for Enhancing Self-Control>
1. Set Clear and Measurable Goals
Setting clear goals is one of the most important factors in building self-control. Goals should be specific, measurable, and achievable within a reasonable time frame. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be more disciplined,” you can set a goal such as, “I will exercise for 30 minutes daily for one month.”
2. Manage Time Efficiently >
Effective time management helps reduce distractions and improve focus. This can be achieved by:
– Prioritizing daily tasks using techniques such as the Eisenhower Matrix, which categorizes tasks based on their importance and urgency.
– Using time management tools, such as task management apps, to avoid distractions and maintain continuous productivity.
– Allocating dedicated periods for focused work, such as the “Pomodoro Technique,” which involves working in short, concentrated intervals followed by brief breaks.
3. Adopt Positive Habits
Positive habits play a key role in enhancing self-control, such as:
– Practicing meditation and mindfulness: These habits help reduce stress and improve self-awareness.
– Exercising regularly: Physical activity improves the ability to manage stress and enhances emotional and behavioral self-regulation.
– Following a balanced diet: Healthy nutrition positively impacts brain function, improving focus and self-discipline.
4. Use Self-Control Techniques
There are several techniques that help regulate behavior and strengthen self-control, including:
– Deep Breathing Techniques: These techniques help calm nerves and improve concentration.
– Mindfulness Meditation: Enhances self-awareness and reduces negative emotional reactions.
– Positive Self-Talk: Helps build a positive mindset, supporting commitment to self-control.
Applying the Three Deep Processes
1. Filtering
This process aims to sort through information and thoughts to identify what is useful and what should be discarded. It helps reduce mental stress and focus on what matters most.
2. Purification
This involves clearing the mind of negative beliefs or lingering emotions that may impede progress. This can be achieved through practices like meditation, positive thinking, and eliminating negative habits.
3. Updating Memory Files
This process requires replacing old and ineffective thoughts with new beliefs and ideas that support the achievement of personal goals. It helps reprogram the mind to become more focused and disciplined.
Self-control is a skill that can be developed through continuous practice and commitment to self-regulation techniques. By applying the processes of filtering, purifying, and updating memory files, an individual can make significant progress in their personal and professional life, leading to success and prosperity.
Stage 3: Self-Transcendence
3.1 Concept of Self-Transcendence
Self-transcendence is the transition from mere self-control to the development of a higher level of awareness and intrinsic motivation, where an individual becomes more capable of surpassing personal limitations and attaining a state of inner balance, intellectual maturity, and spiritual growth. It is the phase in which a person rises above their immediate desires and material needs, seeking a deeper meaning in life that connects them to higher values and principles.
Self-transcendence requires a precise understanding of the human psyche and the progression through its various levels, where the lower ego (related to instincts and desires) interacts with the higher ego (which represents noble values and principles). By achieving this balance, an individual becomes more aware of their responsibilities towards themselves and society.
Types of the Self and Progression Within It
To understand self-transcendence, it is essential to recognize the different types of the human self, as outlined in psychology and spiritual philosophy:
1. The Commanding Soul (Nafs Ammarah): Represents unrestrained instincts and desires, driving individuals toward irrational behaviors.
2. The Blaming Soul (Nafs Lawwamah): Represents the inner conscience, where individuals begin to review their actions and analyze decisions between right and wrong.
3. The Soul at Peace (Nafs Mutmainnah): Represents a state of balance and inner peace, where a person transcends personal problems and reaches a stage of deep contentment.
The Responsibility of the Lower and Higher Ego in Decision-Making
– The Lower Ego: Driven by primal emotions, such as fear, anger, and desire. When it controls decisions, an individual becomes more impulsive and less capable of achieving self-transcendence.
– The Higher Ego: Operates based on higher values and principles, responsible for making rational and balanced decisions that lead to growth and development.
Self-transcendence does not mean suppressing the lower ego, but rather achieving harmony between the two aspects, where decisions are made based on awareness and rational choice rather than emotional reactions.
3.2 Importance of Self-Transcendence
1. Achieving Accomplishments Beyond Personal Needs
In the self-control stage, the focus is on personal discipline, but in self-transcendence, individuals begin to think beyond themselves and seek to achieve broader goals, such as serving others or creating positive change in society.
2. Enhancing Self-Satisfaction and Inner Peace
When a person achieves self-transcendence, they become more reconciled with themselves, making them less susceptible to stress and anxiety. They not only strive for external achievements but focus on creating a state of inner balance and deep contentment.
3. Developing the Intrinsic Motivation for Growth and Development
Self-transcendence helps overcome psychological barriers and internal limitations, propelling individuals toward continuous learning and expanding their intellectual and spiritual horizons. Instead of relying on external motivation, the drive for growth comes from within.
3.3 Ways to Achieve Self-Transcendence
1. Develop Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage emotions in a constructive way, and it is essential for achieving self-transcendence. It consists of four key dimensions:
– Self-awareness: Recognizing emotions and their impact on decisions and behaviors.
– Self-management: Controlling emotions and directing them positively.
– Social awareness: Understanding others’ emotions and interacting with them consciously.
– Relationship management: Building healthy relationships based on empathy and respect.
2. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful tool for achieving self-transcendence, as it shifts the focus from scarcity to abundance. Gratitude can be enhanced through:
– Writing a daily list of things the individual is grateful for.
– Reflecting on the blessings and positives in life.
– Expressing appreciation to people who positively impact their life.
3. Engage in Meaningful Activities
One way to achieve self-transcendence is by engaging in activities beyond personal interests, such as:
– Volunteering: Charitable work enhances the sense of purpose and belonging.
– Creative Projects: Whether through writing, music, art, or any form of creative expression, these activities foster inner growth.
– Meditation and Spiritual Practices: Practices like yoga or mindfulness meditation help clear the mind and enhance self-awareness.
4. Adopt a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through continuous effort and learning, and it is one of the most important factors in achieving self-transcendence. This can be achieved by:
– Embracing challenges instead of avoiding them, seeing them as opportunities for growth.
– Continuous learning through reading, courses, or seeking new opportunities for gaining knowledge.
– Focusing on the process rather than the outcome, directing attention to gradual development rather than striving for perfection.
Self-transcendence is the phase where an individual move from mere self-regulation to achieving deep awareness and intrinsic motivation, leading them toward continuous growth and development. It is a journey that requires understanding the self, balancing the lower and higher ego, and adopting intellectual and behavioral habits that enhance awareness and decision-making control.
By developing emotional intelligence, practicing gratitude, engaging in meaningful activities, and adopting a growth mindset, a person becomes capable of surpassing their personal limits and achieving higher levels of accomplishment and self-satisfaction.
Self-transcendence is not a final goal but an ongoing process that requires commitment and continuous development, yet the rewards one reaps from this development outweigh any challenges encountered along the way.
Stage4: Self-Flow
4.1 Concept of Self-Flow
Self-flow is a mental state in which a person is completely immersed in a specific activity, resulting in automatic and effortless performance without conscious effort. This concept is known in positive psychology as the “Flow State,” described by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as the moment when there is a deep integration between the individual and their activity, where the sense of time disappears, anxiety fades away, and focus reaches its peak.
Key Elements of the Self-Flow State
To reach a state of flow, a resonance must be achieved between three key elements:
1. Mind: Represents thinking and analysis, where the individual is in a state of deep focus and full attention.
2. Emotions: Emotions play a significant role in self-flow, as the person is in emotional harmony with what they are doing, leading to feelings of happiness and intrinsic motivation.
3. Body: Flow is linked to harmonious physical movement, where the individual performs their actions naturally without excess effort.
When these three elements are balanced, the person reaches a state of complete harmony, helping them achieve their goals easily and attract opportunities and success without internal resistance.
4.2 Importance of Self-Flow
1. Increased Efficiency and Productivity
When a person enters the flow state, they become more productive, working at their full capacity without feeling exhausted. Tasks that would typically be draining can become enjoyable and seamless, leading to greater accomplishments in less time.
2. Enhancing Feelings of Happiness and Satisfaction –>
Flow is not just a means to achieve professional success but also a key source of self-contentment. When a person is in a flow state, they experience true happiness because they are fully engaged in what they are doing, without worry or distraction.
3. Achieving Creativity and Innovation–>
In the flow state, the brain is in a position to generate new and creative ideas. This is highly beneficial for artists, writers, scientists, and innovators who seek to find unconventional solutions to problems.
4.3 How to Achieve the Self-Flow State
1. Choose the Right Tasks
To achieve flow, the activity being done must present an appropriate level of challenge relative to the person’s skills:
– If the activity is too easy, the person will feel bored and lose focus.
– If it is too difficult, they will feel stressed and frustrated.
– When the challenge is balanced with skills, the activity becomes stimulating and leads to entering the flow state.
2. Deep Focus
One of the most important conditions for achieving flow is the ability to focus fully on the present moment. This can be achieved through:
– Removing distractions such as phones and unnecessary notifications.
– Practicing mindfulness meditation to increase the ability to stay in the present.
– Using the “Pomodoro Technique,” where one focuses for 25-50 minutes continuously, followed by a short break.
3. Receive Immediate Feedback
When a person receives direct feedback on their performance, it becomes easier for them to adjust their behavior and maintain the flow state. This can be achieved by:
– Measuring progress during work, such as tracking the number of words written or tasks completed.
– Relying on immediate feedback, either from oneself or others, to improve performance.
4. Enjoy the Process Rather Than Just the Results>
One of the biggest factors that prevent flow is over-focusing on the final outcome. When the person focuses on the journey rather than the destination, they become abler to enter the flow state and enjoy every moment during their work.
Self-flow is the stage where an individual reaches complete harmony between the mind, emotions, and body, allowing them to achieve success easily and without excess effort. When a person masters the art of entering the flow state, they become more productive, happier, and more creative.
Achieving flow is not just a skill but a lifestyle that requires continuous practice, self-development, and awareness of the present moment. When flow becomes a part of daily life, accomplishments become smoother, and goals are achieved without struggle, leading to a life filled with creativity and satisfaction.
Conclusion
True change is not just a goal that can be achieved overnight; it is an ongoing journey that requires deep self-awareness, self-discipline, and a genuine desire for growth and development. Through the four stages – **self-diagnosis, self-control, self-transcendence, and self-flow** – an individual becomes capable of reorganizing their intellectual and behavioral systems in a way that enables them to achieve true and lasting accomplishments.
Each stage represents a necessary step in building a balanced personality in harmony with its goals and ambitions. Through “self-diagnosis,” a person begins to understand themselves and analyze their mental programming, allowing them to then practice “self-control” by regulating behaviors and emotions. They then rise to a deeper level of maturity in “self-transcendence,” where they go beyond their personal limitations to find a greater meaning in life. Finally, they reach “self-flow,” where achievement becomes automatic and smooth, without internal resistance or inner conflict.
These stages are not just theories, but practical paths anyone can follow to achieve “real and lasting change.” Change does not come from the outside but stems from within. Every step in this journey brings a person closer to their true self, making their life more balanced, creative, and fulfilling. “When an individual becomes the master of their decisions, in control of their emotions and thoughts, and connected to their deep consciousness, they not only achieve success but become a source of inspiration and change for those around them.”