The Adaptivist - Are You The Next Leonardo Da Vinci?
Part 3 of 4 — On who this is for, and what it means to become an Adaptivist
Welcome back.
Parts one and two were about the world we’re living in, and the feeling many of us carry that something essential got left behind.
We ended Part 2 by coining the term “The Adaptivist”, who is an expert generalist.
Someone who understands how to marry the dichotomy of doing and non-doing, when to take action, when to surrender, and to have complete trust in life and the outcome of one’s action.
Life becomes more like a dance than a journey, or a pilgrimage with a destination at the end of it.
It becomes participatory.
We’re aware this next part sounds like we’ve spent a lot of time in the mountains - we might have, so bear with us.
The Adaptivist understands that they rely on other humans.
They tune their antenna: their body, emotions, mind, and soul to stay connected to themselves, to others, and to the source of life.
They remember why they are here. And they help others remember why they are here, so we can mature and evolve together.
They understand that two stories are always unfolding in parallel: the world story, and the sacred story.
The world story is this lifetime: identity, vocation, relationships, failures, successes, achievements, losses, and gains. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
The sacred story is the soul’s story. It spans time and space and connects us to something beyond us, call it the source, God, Life, or Love.
The Adaptivist stays connected to the heart, so insights from the sacred story can inform the world story, and vice versa.
They care for the body physically, emotionally, and mentally, keeping the antenna clear and receptive. This allows connection to oneself, to others, to the universe, and to life as a whole.
The Adaptivist moves from “I think, therefore I am” toward “I feel, therefore I am.” There is no need for excessive explanation. Their actions speak. And when they speak, they speak from the heart and with embodied truth.
The Adaptivist is a generalist by design.
They do not specialize in narrow fragments of life. They cultivate breadth across mind, body, creativity, relationships, systems, and soul. Because it is at the intersections that aliveness appears.
They develop depth in at least one human dimension, psychology, story, aesthetics, systems, community, philosophy, and weave the rest together with taste.
In a world of accelerating tools and artificial intelligence, the Adaptivist becomes the integrator. Not the one who knows everything, but the one who can connect what matters.
They orchestrate intuitively. Rising tides raise all boats. No one teaches alone. We evolve each other.
They understand that polarity exists within. Love and hate coexist in every human, as if each of us holds a key to the gates of heaven, and the same key opens the gates of hell.
To love fully requires acknowledging one’s own shadow and the hate that also lives within us. By facing it rather than projecting it, we learn to love ourselves and others unconditionally. In others, we recognize ourselves: mortal humans capable of love and hate. And we choose love. As love begets love.
By choosing love, we heal collectively. We do not project our shadows onto the world. We befriend them, carry them, and refuse to let them unconsciously shape the world story.
Our attention becomes our prayer. Where and how we direct it becomes our unique way of expressing love.
This is our creative expression: an expression of love, joy, peace, and mutual evolution.
A finely tuned antenna allows us to receive ideas, visions, and original thoughts. Ideas do not belong to individuals. They move through us, and if not acted upon, they move on, because ideas want to be manifested.
The Adaptivist knows that life is not a journey with a destination, but a dance that requires careful listening: knowing when to surrender and when to act. An active participation in life, and an ongoing conversation with the source and everyone around you.
The question shifts from “What do I want from life?” to “What is life asking of me?” This is a lifelong process, approached with humility, gratitude, curiosity, and humor.
The Adaptivist embraces being human. They are here to experience life fully: failure and success, beauty and difficulty, heartbreak and growth, and the never-ending process of becoming.
They do not escape into spiritual bypassing or spiritual ego. They tune the antenna not to rise above life, but to participate in it more fully.
Be here. Be human.
The Adaptivist plays, creates, and connects.
These are not hobbies; they are the last remaining human superpowers.
They strive for emotional maturity. Not to be ruled by emotions, but to listen to them and work with them.
They take responsibility for their inner world. When triggered, they pause before reacting. Their pain is not an excuse to wound others, but an invitation to grow. They communicate honestly, even when it is uncomfortable.
They know how to hold space for themselves and for others. They can sit with tears without fixing. They can face conflict without collapsing or attacking. Their strength is not hardness, but grounded softness: the ability to remain open when things become difficult.
They lead through integrity. They say what they mean and do what they say. They keep their word, especially to themselves. Their ambition is not to dominate, but to serve: to build, protect, and nurture what truly matters.
They are in a relationship with something greater. They may call it God, Life, the Universe, or simply Love. Success is not measured by status or possessions, but by how much truth and love flow through them.
Independence alone leads to isolation. Codependence leads to collapse. The Adaptivist practices interdependence, the dance between individualism and togetherness.
And they will slip on some days, and be more mature in some areas and immature in others. They are not perfect; they are becoming.
Every mistake refines character, every heartbreak deepens compassion, and every challenge is an initiation.
Emotional maturity is not a destination. It is a lifelong dance between awareness, humility, and courage.
The Adaptivist commits to community and to something beyond themselves.
Perhaps, our founding member Emily captured it in the best way:
“The market punishes you for being a generalist. People want specialization, they want certainty. But maybe we’ve missed out on 50 Leonardo da Vincis because they were told: pick one thing.” - Emily, founding member Eleven Dunbar
None of this is a prescription; it is a direction we trust as it feels more like remembering than becoming anything.
The Adaptivist is not a finished person, but someone who is in motion, curious, open, a little weird, and committed to remembering how to be more alive in the company of others.
Someone who has decided that life and growth are not a solo project.
That is exactly who Eleven Dunbar is built around.
Next week, we will share more about the vision of Eleven Dunbar, and the beautiful thing is, it is less about Justin’s and my vision, and more about the vision of our founding members.
Love,
Gerhard & Justin
ps. If you want to join this awesome squad of people and build something meaningful together, where playful and profound experiences meet, then apply here: https://elevendunbar.com/ - We have a few limited spots open!