introduction
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include our setbacks and disappointments in ways that orchestrate a totally new growth spiral. Understanding the role of balance over past lives may help you find balance in your current lifetime, thus accelerating a proven part of the human evolutionary process. Discovering the full landscape of your existence requires not only exploring your past, but more importantly, incorporating your findings into your present life. Clarifying your present-life view of your personal existence is the important first step in that critical process. In our studies, diversity along with optimism typically characterized the present-life views of college students and nonstudents alike. Here are a few examples. • A humanities major (female, age 20): “My life is constantly evolving in what I believe to be a higher plan, not only for me but for all of humanity. It’s within that plan that I set goals and find direction.” • A psychology major (male, age 22): “Everything evolves. All you need is a starting point which can be accidental. I may be just an aberration in an accidental universe. Nevertheless, life is beautiful, and I’m glad to be alive.” • A n undeclared major (female, age 19): “I’m still searching for meaning in my life. I don’t know where that search will take me, but I’m open to the possibilities.” • A library science major (female, age 24): “I get meaning and fulfillment in life by helping others. I strongly believe there is a force for good in the universe. Beyond that, I believe that we sometimes overly complicate things, including our existence and the meaning of life.” • A n interior designer (male, age 27): “I sometimes see my life as an accumulation of meaningless debris scattered across a wasteland.