The Eight Structures of Life

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Things we are naturally good at and those that need attention. Every now and then, we need to take the time to evaluate where we stand, and what has changed.

While most areas of life are deeply interlinked with each other, taking the time to look closely at what area needs attention and what is working is essential.

When these 8 structures of life start working for you, you feel harmony in life. Things flow with fewer hiccups, and we live in a state of deep gratitude when these structures of life are stabilized.

Developed by Michael Beckwith, these 8 structures of life can help you discover your authentic self. When we invest time and effort and work on these structures, they become an asset instead of a liability.

As you read through these 8 structures of life, write down what structure you need to work on. Start by giving each structure a rating on a 10-point scale where 1 means you need the most amount of help on the structure and 10 means you are stable in that area of life.

Here are the eight structures:

1. Spiritual: We achieve stability in this structure when we realize we are spiritual and eternal beings. That we are a spiritual idea that never had birth and that will never die. In the words of Michael Beckwith, we are not phenomena but noumena. We are always unfolding, and we will eternally be on this spiritual quest. According to Michael Beckwith, there are four stages of spiritual growth. Practicing spirituality and making it a part of your life can really help in stabilizing this structure.
   



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2. Ego: The ego plays an important role in our survival. It helps us differentiate ourselves from the outside world. It separates us from poisonous plants and predators for instance. Ego was extremely important for our survival when we were roaming the dangerous forests centuries ago.
   
   But today, when we view the world from this ego/separation perspective, our ego creates havoc in our lives. Existential dangers no longer threaten us and leaning in on ego harms us as well as others close to us.
   
   We’ve now started to see our planet separate from ourselves. We perceive other people to be different from us, just because they may look or sound a little different. Our ego has started demolishing the bridges that connect us all. There is this false sense of separation between us all. Stabilizing this structure means viewing the world from the perspective of oneness and unity.
3. Livelihood: We’ve all been given a gift that we can give to the world. Nothing is more satisfying than knowing that we have discovered that gift and are doing the work each day. It does not matter what it is, all that matters is that you are enjoying what you do. When you discover it, you will intuitively know that it is more than having a job, it juices us, it is beyond just a way of making money. It activates our gifts and potential. We stabilize this structure when we know what our gift is, and when we love getting up every day to get to work.
   



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4. Relationships: When we cultivate relationships with others, it lets us participate in a field that is larger than others. Be it intimate relationships, friendships, or even business relationships. They are an important part of our life structure. According to Michael Beckwith, a true relationship is joint participation in the good of love, peace, and joy. When we are in a mature relationship, we don’t just receive joy or love from someone, we are participating in the field of love and flowing in it together.
   
   Often, our relationships are vehicles of self-reflection. Marriage reflects what our own insecurities are. When this area stabilizes, it does not drain us, it becomes an asset because we then have partners who are supportive of our growth. Difficult relationships tend to suck and deplete our energy. If you are struggling in this area, there are many simple things you can do to rekindle your relationships.
   
   We stabilize this structure when our relationships fuel us. When we are happy and content in our relationships.
   



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5. Body Temple: This is the actual physical structure of our lives. Our body is a sacred place where our soul dwells. We are in structural integrity when we are in good health and treat our bodies with love and respect. We are free from judgments of our body, and we do not compare it to others. We are comfortable with who we are, and we do not let our health get in the way of relationships and goals of life. This is what structural integrity is for our body temple.
6. Finances: When it comes to our finances, stabilization is important. But it can be tricky. We need to believe deeply that abundance is everywhere. If we take abundance from abundance, it remains abundant. It never depletes since it is a field.
   
   When we harmonize this structure, we make decisions and choices that harmonize prosperity. Our needs are met financially and otherwise. We stay away from materialism. The gifts that flow into our lives may not be in form of money, but they positively affect our finances. Good things just happen to us.
   
   If this is difficult today, it is because we need to heal the false sense of unworthiness, that voice that says that we are not good enough or that we are not worth more. When we let go of this notion, our finances improve, and things flow to us naturally and abundantly.
7. Beliefs: The next life structure is our beliefs. This life structure is often key to changing other life structures as well. There are two levels of beliefs:
   1. Hidden: — Hidden level of beliefs means that we feel a certain lacking in our lives. Like we are missing a key. We also feel that we are not good enough, that we are alone and must fend for ourselves. These beliefs are often developed during our childhood, and we carry these experiences for years to adulthood. When we are able to heal these hidden beliefs, we can transcend to the next/second level of beliefs.
   2. Knowing: The second level of belief is a level of knowing.  Over time we learn the belief in oneness. We learn that we are one with the universe and that things happen through us, not to us. When we develop this belief structure, we do not defend it. We just do not find the need to do it. We are comfortable in it, whether someone follows those beliefs or not. This second level of belief is often cultivated with practice. The practice of meditation, mindfulness, etc.
8. Community: On earth, all levels of frequencies exist – high and low. When we interact with people, we either raise it or lower it. When we are a part of a community that supports us, believes in us, and raises us up, we automatically raise our vibration. When we are feeling low and are vibrating at a lower frequency, being among our community members raises our frequency as well. In the words of Michael Beckwith, “Our community grants us immunity from a lower frequency of life."

Now that you know what the 8 structures of life are, take a moment to evaluate where you stand in these 8 structures. What areas do you need to improve? Make a note of it so you can look back at your results.

Bookmark this article and add a reminder to your calendar. Revisit this article and rate yourself on these 8 areas again. Compare your score and see your progress.

Doing this on a regular basis will lend a much-needed perspective to life. It helps us see how far we have come and the progress we have made in life. Often, we tend to diminish the small (but positive) changes we make in our routines. This system will help in evaluating our lives periodically and seeing the progress. It will allow us to appreciate and enjoy small moments in our life.

If you found this article useful, we recommend taking the Life Vision Mastery course on Mindvalley. It dives deeper into each of the life structures with concrete strategies for improving them.