Life is a continual series of encounters between ourselves and the world. The extent to which we can learn from and be nourished by them, and then also give back or keep out what is not needed, determines our overall health and longevity. These processes of encounter lead to inner transformation and creative development as individuals. They can be described as seven discrete activities: The first three involve ways in which we take in the world around us and make it our own. They primarily include processes of breakdown and transformation. The last three relate to our inner creative activities- how we renew and regenerate ourselves. And the middle process integrates and harmonizes between these two polarities.