On a recent Saturday morning, twelve people were sitting cross-legged on pale cork mats in a Brooklyn yoga studio under the sun, talking about “expanding the self.” Taxis were idling outside, and there was a loud argument on the sidewalk. The words were softer inside: alignment, transcendence, and intention. It seemed real. Additionally, it felt somewhat competitive in a difficult-to-describe way.
Money and status in the conventional sense are not the new social currency that is in vogue. Evolution is what it is. Self-awareness is a good thing. Being self-actualized is preferable. To be “self-evolved,” however, is the ultimate goal.
| Name | Dr. Neera Dhar |
|---|---|
| Profession | Public Health Academic & Researcher |
| Affiliation | National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi |
| Known For | Development of the Spiritual Health Scale (SHS 2011) |
| Research Focus | Self-Evolution, Spiritual Health, Holistic Well-being |
| Published In | AYU Journal (PubMed Central) |
| Reference | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611654/ |
It’s more than just Instagram poetry. The Spiritual Health Scale was created in 2012 by Dr. Neera Dhar and associates, who recognized “Self-Evolution” as the main component of spiritual well-being. Self-evolution, according to their research, is about developing a broader perspective, empathy, introspection, creativity, questioning injustice, and living above comparison. It seems indisputable on paper—who wouldn’t want greater empathy, reflection, and candor?
However, it’s possible that a constructive ambition turned into pressure at some point.
With leadership books, meditation apps, retreats, and online courses promising improvement, the self-improvement sector has been growing steadily. Glamorous covers telling readers to elevate, transcend, regain focus, and maximize purpose can be seen when you stroll through an airport bookstore. It appears that investors think there is a never-ending need to improve. And perhaps there is.
Better than what, though? And for whom?
Last year, at a corporate leadership seminar in London, an executive talked about how he felt bad about taking a weekend off. Half-joking, half-not, she remarked, “I should be evolving.” In a month, she had read three books about conscious leadership. She was keeping tabs on her routine. Journaling and taking cold showers were part of her morning ritual. It still didn’t seem sufficient.
One cannot help but observe how the language of growth can become a silent scoreboard.
The self, according to philosophers like Colin McGinn, evolved biologically as an integrative force that united disparate mental modules. In that way, the role of the self is to bring order to complexity by fostering cohesion. However, it appears that contemporary culture asks the self to do something a little different: to constantly improve itself, as though personality were software.
This situation has a subtle tension. From a biological perspective, evolution is slow and unconsciously occurring. According to wellness spaces, self-evolution is intentional and evident. It requires dedication, self-reflection, yoga, philanthropy, and an appreciation of art; it is frequently recorded and occasionally made profitable.
And it hardly ever stops.
Many people had to face loneliness, reevaluate their priorities, and look for purpose during the pandemic. Mindfulness app sales soared. Platforms for online therapy reported expansion. Once limited to personal rites, spirituality made its way into Zoom rooms. Some people’s self-awareness actually deepened during this time. It created an additional level of expectation for others.
It seems as though even suffering must now lead to wisdom.
You should learn the lesson if you experience heartbreak. If you don’t succeed, you should explain your progress. You ought to sign up for a program if you feel stuck. It is now practically immoral to stagnate. A person who is spiritually stagnant runs the risk of being called unconscious, sleepy, or unevolved.
That wording can be hurtful.
According to Dhar’s research, self-evolution entails avoiding comparisons. It’s ironic that comparison has turned into its shadow. Social media feeds are replete with calm morning routines and captions that emphasize thankfulness and detachment. Of course, the photos are carefully chosen. Nevertheless, they foster an environment in which common confusion is seen as insufficient.
One gets the impression that evolution has turned into art as you watch this happen.
This change is even reflected in leadership culture. The concept of the “self-evolved leader” is popular in business circles and stresses regaining focus, establishing shared accountability, and promoting flow. These disciplines are deserving. However, they run the risk of transforming growth into identity branding if they present it as moral superiority rather than practice.
Whether this pressure eventually builds resilience or subtly erodes it is still unknown.
Research on spiritual health indicates that spiritual practices are positively correlated with reduced stress, improved coping mechanisms, and even better physical health outcomes. It is true that empathy and a broader viewpoint are important. However, integration—aligning the mental, spiritual, and physical dimensions—rather than perfection was the initial goal of these practices.
The texture of perfection is different. It is fragile.
Some people confess to being tired in private discussions. In Manchester, a friend acknowledged that she occasionally wants to “just react” without considering the karmic lesson. Another healthcare professional expressed that she feels bad when she is unable to show compassion. Although it didn’t sound completely like a joke, she laughed and said, “I should be more evolved by now.”
There is no end to evolution in its purest form.
Sincere acceptance rather than continuous improvement is arguably the most radical component of self-evolution. identifying anger and not trying to pass it off as transcendence. allowing ambition without acting as though it’s selfless. Yes, extending the self beyond the ego, but not completely eliminating it.
The pressure to be “self-evolved” may reflect contemporary insecurity more so than spiritual depth. It feels urgent to ground ourselves in a world that is accelerating with information and comparison. Grounding, however, cannot be coerced. It develops gradually, frequently undetectable, and without hashtags.
The taxis were still sitting outside that studio in Brooklyn. Laughter had replaced the squabble on the sidewalk. It turns out that growth may appear more like repeatedly returning to a self that is already complex, incomplete, and very much alive than it does like continuous ascent.