Contrasting Self-Help and Metanoia: Exploring Healing and Transformation
In the age of self-help, Western culture has placed unprecedented emphasis on personal healing. The proliferation of self-help books in bookstores across the Western world is a testament to this trend. As a philosopher, I find it blatant to see these books side by side with works of philosophy. This juxtaposition is particularly common with the writings of Epicurean and Stoic thinkers from the Hellenistic period, who explored the cathartic power of philosophy through letters, essays, and aphorisms influenced by Roman practicality and political life.
Self-help books, currently bestsellers, focus on the healing potential of the mind, self, and ego. They advocate for transformative processes that encompass reflection, emotional growth, and physical well-being. On the whole a materialistic concept of happiness o wellness. While some draw inspiration from orientalistic worldviews like Buddhism and Hinduism, others delve into psychological and neurophysiological themes, aiming to attain self-discipline through self-knowledge. However, in my view, all these approaches rest upon the assumption that one can solely heal and transform their life, a thesis that requires more nuanced exploration.
Controversially, the concept of self-help clashes with the ancient and neo-testamentary idea of metanoia. The Greek word “metanoia,” challenging to translate, was traditionally rendered as “repentance” in old English Bible versions. Contemporary translations often prefer “conversion,” which relates not only to physical and psychological healing but primarily to spiritual and integral healing. In the biblical context, healing entails attending to the heart, the personhood we would say, and signifies a “conversion of the heart” towards God. It is important to note that metanoia is not an operation carried out by the individual but an action undergone by him or her, sometimes without requesting or deserving it. Within the framework of the New Testament, healing and conversion do not occur through personal agency or willpower, but through the free and gratuitous action of God. The gratuity of metanoia, as a transformative process, is a fundamental characteristic. Although God considers the cooperation of an individual’s will, conversion is not earned through merit. Even great sinners, perceived as undeserving, can desire and request conversion and personal healing, but it will be granted when the free will of the Healer determines it.
In conclusion, the essential difference between self-help and metanoia lies in the limited and superficial healing power of the self. While we may temporarily alleviate moral suffering through self-help, true happiness eludes us. As the saying goes, “The physician cannot heal himself.” The complete transformation of our being, particularly our hearts, cannot be achieved through subjective means. On the other hand, the healing of the person can only be anticipated and awaited as a metanoia or conversion bestowed upon us — an immeasurable power granted solely by its Giver.
