download:Southam and Corley 2020
NUMBER 80 / VOL. 3, 2020
Living From Inside Out:
The Value of Conscious
Aging and the Foray (4a+)
“Beyond Self” Paradigm
“Growing” older can open possibilities never thought
possible. New research supports a trio of fresh ideas for
getting there.
By Theresa Southam, PhD and
Connie S. Corley, MSW, MA, PhD
www.csa.us
Copyright 2020 Society of Certified Senior AdvisorsLIVING FROM INSIDE OUT:
The Value of Conscious
Aging and the Foray (4A+)
“Beyond Self” Paradigm
“Growing” older can open possibilities never thought possible.
New research supports a trio of fresh ideas for getting there.
BY THERESA SOUTHAM, PHD AND CONNIE S. CORLEY, MSW, MA , PHD
Growing in later life is not a given; in fact,
many older adults are healthy and active but
may still feel something is missing. We share
stories and processes, facilitated by several practices il-
lustrated here, demonstrating that living from the in-
side out is life enhancing for self and others. Informed
by research, the 4A model previously presented is
expanded to 4A+ as the journey or “foray” into the
unknown of old age unfolds for an increasing number
of people living long lives.
The Emergence of Conscious Aging
In many cultures, the work of elders is less about for-
mal work and more about engaging in inner work. In
the context of “positive aging,” there is growing in-
terest of “conscious aging.” In this article we provide
examples from participants in a research study and
share practices of conscious aging in order to further
enhance this complex time in the life course.
“Maybe we’ve evolved as much as we’re going to
evolve biologically and the next real evolution of hu-
mankind is the evolution of human consciousness”
(Schlitz, Vieten, & Erickson-Freeman, 2011, p. 228).
Self-actualization, a process of becoming better,
healthier people, is multi-faceted and can emerge at
various times. Self-actualization can be accompanied
by increased instances of self-transcendence. Re-
searcher Susanne Cook-Greuter writes that self-tran-
scendence is not a later stage of self-actualization, but
a completely separate process; one becomes open to
non-rational sources of input (2000). Moody (2002)
adds that through established long-term practices, we
may reach higher stages of psychological functioning
and “transcend” unhelpful midlife patterns.
In conscious aging, or gerotranscendence, older
adults tend to become less self-focused, more selec-
tive in their social activities, and spend more time in
solitude and introspection. People who engage in con-
scious aging practices report a reduction in the fear of
death, increased broadmindedness, and a sense of tol-
erance, along with feelings of unity with the universe
and a new view of time (Tornstam, 2005).
It is not surprising that the body, mind, and the
spirit continue to evolve and change until the day we
die. However, gerontologists often focus on the body
and mind, and less on conscious aging, a process that
can be viewed as nurturing spirits and souls.
Forays with and Beyond Self (4A+)
Aging Paradigm
In recent research, several highly generative adults
aged seventy and up were found to be not only wise,
but also experiencing transcendence (Southam, 2020).
Immersed in caring for others (their communities,
families, and the Earth), these older adults were also
informed by experiences that connected them to other
worlds and ways of knowing not seen to be this world.
In this article we expand on a manuscript previously
published in this journal, called: Positive Aging Per-
spectives and a New Paradigm: Foray (4A) into Aging
(Corley and Southam, 2018). We discuss how the spe-
cific tools, life maps, LifeForward plans, and wisdom
circles can help older adults age consciously, avoid be-
ing pressured into activities created by those on the
outside and, instead, lead a life from the inside out.
In the original model by Corley called “4A”
(Awareness, Affiliation, Attitude, and Activity) (Cor-
ley, 2011), a range of practices were found to promote
continuous development, health, and well-being in
older adults. The practices led to more active reflec-
tion on life’s experiences, maintaining and creating
new social networks, heightened awareness of one’s
health, and active engagement of the mind and body.
Although the participants in the recent study (South-
am, 2020) engaged in these processes of actualizing
the self, they were also found to transcend the mind,
body, and spirit. These discoveries led to a proposal
for an expanded model: Foray (4A+) Beyond Self. See
Figure 1.
Transcendence has been described as “a state of
consciousness that one can enter, but leaves upon
returning to ordinary reality” (Cook-Greuter, 2000,
p. 232). The activities described by the research par-
ticipants that led them to transcendence included
deepening spiritual and religious practices, letting
go of possessions, embracing ongoing “relationships”
with people who have died, integrating the head and
heart, appreciating their shared humanity, and realiz-
ing the fluid nature of knowledge (Southam, 2020).
Older adults were found to travel in and out of the
ego-bound, self-actualizing self, growing through
transcendence. One example is Chris, profiled below.
Chris, one of the study participants, described
transcendent experiences through his lifelong pursuit
of photographing nature. He has lived in his commu-
nity in Canada since he was a young man, making a
Figure Beyond Self.
I can approach any subject and express myself in
a way that I never have before, I never dreamt
of [shaking his head in disbelief ]. So now pho-
tography is opening up a world that no one else
has ever seen. I’ve never seen it. I’m able to share
worlds that [my workshop participants] don’t
know exist. That’s pretty cool. You feel it in the
audience when you show them. It is like wow!” he
chuckles, and turns off the highway to the loca-
tion of his next shoot.
Chris has learned his father also explored abstract
themes. He was surprised to find this out when he
returned to the city of his childhood. It was during
a presentation he was making at a photography club
where his father had been a prominent member that
his father’s friends approached him. He and his father
shared a mentor, so he realized that he shouldn’t have
been surprised in their common interests.
Reminiscing and facing mortality, as Chris is do-
ing, are all part of healthy aging. Cultural anthropolo-
gist Angeles Arrien noted that as we age, we have four
frontiers to face: knowing from what we are coming
and toward what we are going, becoming a mentor,
living from photography, publishing books, and giving
coping with the natural challenges of an aging body,
1. Foray (4A) model (Corley, 2011) expanded by co-authors to Foray (4A) +
workshops. Most of his activity has focused on con-
and embracing the inevitability of our own death (Ar-
serving the region he so loves. At seventy-nine, hav-
rien, 2007). In their recent book Walking Each Other
ing accomplished much over his life, he has delighted
Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying, Dass and
himself with what still lies in store. Now comfortably
Bush discuss old age as a window of opportunity,
living with his partner in a house they built and work-
when older adults “can give up accumulating experi-
ing from his straw bale-construction studio, Chris de-
Transcendence has been described as “a state of consciousness that one can enter,
ences and material possessions and instead appreci-
scribes himself as not very religious, but very spiritual.
ate the connectedness of all things” (2018, p. 11). The
His health is good. When he was twenty-five, Chris
but leaves upon returning to ordinary reality” (Cook-Greuter, 2000, p. 232). The
authors discuss a range of practices that aid conscious
survived a serious car accident he says should have
aging, such as being present, cultivating compassion
killed him. “My father told me I was spared because
activities described by the research participants that led them to transcendence included
and loving kindness, and dying into loving awareness.
I had something special to contribute. Those words
Dass, who experienced a stroke at age sixty-six, em-
were inspirational and I never forgot them,” Chris
deepening spiritual and religious practices, letting go of possessions, embracing ongoing
bodied many of these practices up to the time of his
said. Throughout his life, Chris has “transcended” this
death at age eighty-eight in December, 2019.
“relationships” with people who have died, integrating the head and heart, appreciating
world by immersing himself in nature and through
Facing Arrien’s four frontiers while engaging in
his photographs. One day in 2019, as he and the re-
practices that help to transcend the mind, body, and
their shared humanity, and realizing the fluid nature of knowledge (Southam, 2020).
searcher (Southam) approached a high point in the
spirit are essential in the life of consciously aging
landscape on a photographic outing, he said, “When
older adults. They may travel back and forth between
I come up onto the plateau, I leave this other world.”
self-actualizing and self-transcending. Tools that are
Lately, Chris has been engaging in artist retreats,
known to be helpful in self-actualization, described in
places where artists can stay for weeks and pursue
the original Foray (4A) model, may also aid in self-
their art. He signs up for nearby retreats and recently
transcendence, including autobiography, life maps,
for one overseas in Europe. During these times alone
attention, intention, and deep listening (Corbett,
in nature he explores other realities. He displays pure
2013; Erikson, 1988; Gardner, 2000; Maslow, 1971;
joy with techniques he employs completely within
Tornstam, 2005). For the expanded model Foray
his camera:
(4A+) – Beyond Self, we will examine the life map,
the LifeForward Plan, and wisdom circles as examples
“Possibilities of any subject matter are endless!
There are literally thousands of ways with which
of practical tools for older adults who are interested in
continuous development towards self-transcendence.
PAGE 16Practical Tools for Leading from Inside
Out
In this section we discuss tools and activities that
help older adults reflect on what has been important
(see life map), focus on what is important now (see
LifeForward Plan), and support their conscious ag-
ing in community (wisdom circles). These tools were
self-reported to be transformative in the research. The
participants were living the life they wanted to live,
as opposed to just living their lives. Their experiences
could be helpful for older adults who follow the Foray
(4A) model to guide their lifelong learning and who
are interested in a more contemplative and transcen-
dent late life.
LIFE MAP
Methods such as reminiscence, life review, and auto-
biography have flourished in the aging field to help
older adults integrate their life experiences (Cohen,
2006a & 2006b). Understanding life narratives, in-
cluding major transitions and what is learned from
them, can elevate wisdom, generativity, and transcen-
dence among seniors. In the research by Southam
(2019), nine participants aged seventy and up created
life maps. See Jan’s life map below. The life map for
this study was based on the work of Hodge (2005)
and Stinson (2013). An 11” x 14” piece of paper was
FIGURE 2. CHRIS ON HIS BELOVED
CHILCOLTIN PLATEAU.
used with the title Guide Posts in My Life or Spiritual
Life Map. Instructions at the bottom of the page read:
“On this sheet of paper draw your life’s journey from
a spiritual perspective, including stops along the way.
You do not have to be an artist; e.g., stick people are
fine! Your path might be linear, by decades, or it might
be more freeform where life events that are significant
to your spiritual development are drawn together.”
Some prompts on the map included:
• “What trials have you learned from?”
FIGURE 3. JAN’S LIFE MAP
“Have you felt communion with a spirit outside
of yourself or a redefinition of time, space and
objects?”
• “What have you learned from life’s experiences?”
• “Are there rituals or practices that help you?”
• “Are there relationships or mentors that are par-
ticularly important?”
Jan, one of the research participants, is seventy
and only recently retired from a leadership position.
She is already on the board of several community
non-profits. For her, this project came just at the right
time. Reflecting on major transitions in her life and
planning what is important in the future were timely
tasks (Figure 3); she was in the process of deciphering
what is next for her.
Jan discusses how she transcends herself in the
process of the life map:
You [referring to the researcher] walked into my
life right when I was struggling with what I’d
FIGURE 4. MARY’S LIFEFORWARD PLAN.
accomplished. You were a witness. Participating
in this research opened my heart. I usually ask
the questions. You pushed me out of the script
leading to my personal transformation. Whoever
I see in my day, I speak with them differently now.
It has made me very happy. At first, the life map
was challenging for most of the participants. They
were encouraged to “just identify four or five ma-
jor transitions and what you learned from them.”
Once complete, the life map was transformative
for all of the participants.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Tools that help older adults identify what’s important
in the next chapter can help them clear time and space
for transcendent experiences and give them courage
to age consciously. In the study by Southam (2020),
participants engaged in exercises from LifeForward:
Charting the Journey Ahead. After decades of research,
study, and writing about adult development, McLean
(2016) developed templates for planning out the later
phases of life. The LifeForward plan
(McLean, 2016) was created to help
adults grow into elderhood and navi-
gate the “rapid, dramatic, and disruptive
change” (viii) that is manifest in today’s
world. McLean writes, “We will prob-
ably have many more chapters in our
lives than our parents had. Many of us
today will enjoy an added bonus round
of twenty-some years of life compared
to past generations. If we are going to
prosper in our elder years, the work
starts now!” (2016, p. ix).
Another research participant,
Mary, had also just retired from a lead-
ership position like Jan, but in her case
it had been in healthcare. At seventy-
nine, she speaks of the first few years
after retirement as a time when she
said “no” to many things. Mary knew
that she needed some time to reassess
and figure out what she wanted to do
with the next stage of her life. She is
now volunteering but is careful with
her time and commitments. Divorced,
she lives alone outside of town and
enjoys the peace and solitude there.
She describes herself as not very re-
ligious, but spiritual. She refers to her
health as good. Below is an example of
a portion of a LifeForward plan where
Mary demonstrates her commitment
PAGE 18to spirituality and discusses the steps she will take
along the way.
WISDOM CIRCLES
As older adults age consciously, they may face many
barriers, such as conflicts with caregivers, family, and
friends who do not see the opportunity for con-
tinuous growth in them. Wisdom circles have been
defined as peer-to-peer “gatherings which help to
create and maintain social connections with other
like-minded persons” (Sage-ing International, 2019).
They are a way for older adults to deal communally
on a regular basis with life completion in a place of
safety and respect. Some circles reclaim the name of
“circle of elders.” Jan went on to help create, and then
participate in, a wisdom circle as a way to support her
conscious aging. Having peer-to-peer support is vital
as older adults, like others, are vulnerable to social
isolation.
Conclusion
Immersed in caring for others (their communities,
families, and the Earth), many older adults do not
take the time to appreciate themselves or to consider
whether their actions align with their own purpose.
Nine highly generative older adults reported that en-
gaging in self-reflection on major turning points in
their lives, and prioritizing what’s important in their
upcoming years, was transformative for them (South-
am, 2020). The 4A+ model was shared here along with
some specific tools like life maps and LifeForward
plans to help older adults avoid being pressured into
activities created by those on the outside and, instead,
lead from inside. •CSA
A 2020 PhD in Human and Organizational Develop-
ment, Theresa Southam continues her research as a
Fielding ISI Fellow. Her research interests include the
lived experience of moving between post conven-
tional stages of human development and emerging into transcen-
dence, the practices that older adults use to enter and exit transcen-
dence, the insights gathered from these travels, as well as how these
insights are applied for the greater good. Theresa has contributed a
blog post and book review to the Association for Anthropology, Ger-
ontology and the Lifecourse. Theresa Southam, PhD tsoutham@
email.fielding.edu
Connie Corley, MSW, MA, PhD is a professor at
Fielding Graduate University and Professor Emeritus
at California State University, Los Angeles. A Fellow
of the Gerontological Society of America and the
Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education, Dr. Corley has pub-
lished widely and presented internationally. She co-hosted and pro-
duced a radio program, Experience Talks, at Pacifica station KPFK-
FM in Los Angeles and spearheaded the podcast Love Goes Viral.
conniecorleyphd@gmail.com • 626-532-7438 • conniecorleyphd.
com
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