Applying the nine Edges across the candidate life domains
Use these as applications of the nine Edges to candidate domains. Red — brittle/dull describes an Edge that is weak or unused, or has become rigid, excessive, or distorted. Yellow — mixed/in progress describes a nonjudgmental, context-dependent or developing expression, not a score or diagnosis. Green — strong/sharp describes an Edge that is formed, useful, and responsive—not turned up to maximum. For each domain, compare what you experience internally with what you do or show externally.
Health & capacity
| Edge | Red — brittle/dull — internal; external | Yellow — mixed/in progress — internal; external | Green — strong/sharp — internal; external |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direction | You feel scattered or fixated on one ideal number; you abandon care or sacrifice everything else to optimize one measure. | You are still clarifying what matters in this area; some choices follow a priority, while others are shaped by immediate demands. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You know what “healthy enough for the life I want” means; you choose a few meaningful priorities. |
| Craft | You feel incapable or think you should already know everything; you avoid basic practices or rely on careless, untested interventions. | You are building confidence through practice; some routines feel workable, while others still need learning or support. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You trust practice and learning over hacks; you build repeatable habits and seek competent guidance. |
| Alignment | You feel divided, ashamed, or morally superior; you ignore your limits or follow rules that do not fit your situation. | You are weighing your values against real constraints; some choices feel congruent, while others remain unsettled. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | Your health choices fit your values and actual needs; you keep commitments to your body without pretending perfection. |
| Stewardship | You feel depleted or anxious about losing control; you neglect care or over-control food, exercise, and rest. | You are tending this area unevenly; a few resources or responsibilities are managed intentionally, while others need attention. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You regard your body and energy as worth caring for; you protect sleep, recovery, appointments, and sustainable routines. |
| Adaptation | Change feels threatening or unmooring; you push through harm or abandon all structure when circumstances shift. | You are adjusting to changing circumstances; some responses fit the new situation, while others still reflect the old one. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You adjust without treating changed capacity as failure; you modify routines for injury, illness, age, or circumstances. |
| Service | You feel selfish for having limits or see no value beyond self-optimization; you overextend into caregiving or withhold reasonable support. | You are finding a workable balance between contributing and respecting capacity; what feels appropriate may vary by situation. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You see capacity as able to support others without erasing you; you offer help that fits your health and boundaries. |
| Legacy | You live only for immediate comfort or feel burdened by an imagined perfect future; you ignore compounding effects or chase longevity at the expense of living now. | You are noticing longer-term effects, though immediate needs still shape some choices and patterns are continuing to develop. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You recognize present habits shape future capacity and example; you build sustainable patterns that may benefit those around you. |
| Integration | Your body feels like a project disconnected from you; health crowds out life or is neglected until it undermines life. | You are connecting this area to some parts of your life more clearly than others; you are working out a sustainable fit. | You see health as part of a whole life, not its sole measure; your care supports work, relationships, meaning, and enjoyment. |
| Expression | You hide needs or feel defined by them; you conceal distress until crisis or make health the only thing others see. | You are sharing some needs or ideas more readily than others; comfort and clarity may depend on the situation. (for example, depending on the season or circumstances). | You acknowledge your needs without embarrassment; you communicate symptoms, limits, preferences, and requests for support. |