"If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him." —Gandhi[^1]

There's no doubt we're living in fascinating times. The interconnectedness of the human race through technological sophistication is making us acutely aware of all that is happening on the planet. There are deep systemic and ecological changes taking place, and humanity finds itself at a crossroads. There are two main options: one is to hide, ignore, or run away from the changes that are taking place and our responsibility to them. Many try this route and find themselves naturally in a state of crisis. The second path, which is initially more difficult but more rewarding long-term, is a choice of responsibility. Stepping away from victimhood and ignorance and choosing to become a creator of your life is a journey towards maturity. To become a creator means to develop each area of your life so you may serve the world.

Taking responsibility

Many individuals at some point in their life encounter the sheer injustice of the world. The natural instinct is to do, fix, and somehow 'save' the world. But changing the collective is hard, although not impossible. Very often the actions to improve the world come from the same egoic place that created the problems in the first place. Changing ourselves first has been repeatedly shown by the ancients to be the most effective way of bringing change into the world that lasts. This is a longer and slower path, which is why few embark upon the journey. It's easier to do than to be. The solution might not be a new app, start-up, or …. Rather, it starts with working on yourself. To change yourself is always step one. If you skip it and go to save the world, you'll likely do more harm than good. History is littered with people who possessed a fierce vision for the world, yet whose lack of self-mastery made them inevitably destructive.

The question of change boils down to the choice of how you invest your energy. Many humans misdirect their energy, or are too specific at best. More often than not, people dedicate themselves to a certain activity such as business, creativity, friendships, or spirituality and become so rigid in that form of operating that a wider perspective is lost. Without a clear view of all areas of life, imbalance and therefore loss will occur. Integrated individuals are rare, precisely because we live in a fragmented world. It's become increasingly difficult to nurture all the facets of who we are as the environment actively counteracts it. This explains why there are so few examples around us to show what's possible. Many not only never realize their potential, but never even glimpse it in the first place.

Imbalance

When you can't see what's possible, it's because you—or forces outside of you—repress parts of experience. A common example is people who have become overly identified with their mind. A PhD is then not necessarily beneficial for them; it might be better to embrace silence in nature. Or take a hippie with an admiring open heart, but who is disconnected from practical realities such as money. Here, experience as an entrepreneur could be beneficial in order to manifest his vision. Or imagine a businessman whose wife ends up leaving him because he is not around. More family time would have been good for him. Although this might seem a simple insight, it is not widely practiced. Many of the individual crises we find ourselves in are self-created, or better said, self-repressed.

A few self-help techniques won't fix this. To change your life in one specific direction, while ignoring other areas, simply costs too high a price. But if you focus energy on the essentials of each area with the commitment of being a creator of your own life—integration becomes possible. Rejecting certain parts of life is not only limiting but results in severe loss. People walk through life crippled because they're unaware they have two legs. This is often caused by the interplay between creation and environment. When we create from a certain mode of operating, such as Mind, those actions reinforce that specific domain of life. As individuals, it is extremely hard to battle the collective imbalances, as these will try to drag you into them. This is why many people are imbalanced, because our society is only partially developed. You need to be strong and determined should you wish to integrate all areas of your life.

Integration

The Seven Life Areas is a map and method that can incorporate and is meant to inspire a life lived as an athlete, friend, scholar, artist, builder, seeker, and steward. These are incredible times to be alive, but filled with distraction, it's easy to miss the mark entirely. To be human is a gift and requires taking responsibility for your life. There is nothing more important than creating a good life. This work is above the petty differences of genders, ages, and races. Your life is precious, so give it all you have. Modernity has increasingly numbed and brought death across the planet. But humans are not by nature destructive, and can play a part in creation as well. This is why it's so important to discover your gift in order to serve the world. The surest way to live a good life is to make a meaningful impact. And before we can serve, we need to invest in all areas of our life. Then the transition from consuming to creation can happen by integrating those Seven Life Areas.

Once you understand the 7LA and start seeing the patterns in the world, it is hard to unsee them. You'll start seeing how imbalanced people are. Fragmentation is everywhere; no one escapes from it's grasp. It is therefore important to understand the polarity of the areas: Body and Relationships, Mind and Heart, Matter and Spirit. These are poles that exist on the same spectrum. Overdeveloping one area can, and often will, lead to the negative effects of the other area(s). Only Service stands apart, without polarity, because it is what integrates and unites the other six areas. Service is the essence of all forms of life. This will look different for each person, and its form will shift across the seasons of life. But the invitation is the same: to grow and to contribute. Often, those who actively pursue self-development miss the true mark of improvement entirely—which is to become of service. Our individual lives will simply never be enough, and to live fulfilling lives, we have to look beyond ourselves. This is what it means to become a creator: to examine each area of your life, so you may find your gift and serve the world.