This chapter is a unique contribution to the social and emotional intelligences discourse. Culturally relative self-actualization is defined as the transcendence of basic physiological, psychological, and self or group-fulfillment needs that are meaningful and defined by a person’s cultural paradigm. Within a cultural paradigm, the person’s specific living contexts must be taken into account, as many do not have the privilege or ease of satisfying needs as readily as others. This chapter demonstrates how social and emotional intelligences support culturally relative self-actualization.

Loneliness can be found in many life experiences, such as loss, rejection, illness, failure, as well as in success, creativity, or meditation. This chapter is unique because it includes loneliness as part of the social and emotional intelligences. The author helps readers shift their perception of loneliness from something to be avoided or defended against to a necessary exploration of their solitude in the universe. Solitude is argued as a necessary experience for developing social and emotional intelligences. This chapter explores the benefits of solitude for wellbeing and growth across the lifespan.

This chapter serves as a guide for heuristic inquiry into the social and emotional intelligences. The intent is for readers to come to know their relationships and emotions in ways that appreciate them as phenomena, where there is always something to be discovered. Heuristic inquiry offers a discovery process for application to a concerning or meaningful issue or challenge, which are associated with emotional experience. This allows readers to develop their own social and emotional intelligences to increase the quality of their lives and the effectiveness of their personal and professional endeavors.