Javan Bernakevitch: Cultivating Life by Design

This article introduces the concept of "life design" through an interview with Javan Bernakevitch, a regenerative land designer and educator. The central premise is that actively designing one's life is crucial, as an absence of personal design can lead to external influences shaping one's trajectory. Bernakevitch emphasizes that without intentional life design, individuals risk having their lives directed by others.

The discussion highlights several indicators of an "undesigned life." These include a lack of self-awareness regarding personal strengths and talents, a general absence of clear direction or purpose, and a tendency for past experiences to dictate present and future choices. Other signs mentioned are difficulty in asserting boundaries by saying "no" to requests or opportunities that don't align with personal goals, and chronic indecisiveness. These characteristics collectively suggest a reactive rather than proactive approach to living.

A significant aspect of life design, as presented by Bernakevitch, involves the practice of values-based decision-making. This approach encourages individuals to identify and prioritize their core values, using them as a framework for making choices. The article suggests that by aligning decisions with deeply held values, individuals can gain greater control over their time and effectively prioritize what truly matters to them. This method is presented as a way to move from a state of being passively influenced to actively shaping one's life according to personal principles.

Recognizing that many individuals may be uncertain about their personal values, Bernakevitch offers guidance on how to discover them. While the specific tips are not detailed in this summary, the article assures readers that practical advice is provided within the interview to assist in this self-discovery process. This indicates a practical, actionable approach to life design, moving beyond theoretical concepts to tangible steps.

Bernakevitch's background lends credibility to his insights on life design. Since 2013, he has been actively involved in assisting individuals with this process, focusing on how to align one's life design with one's inherent nature rather than working against it. This suggests a holistic approach that considers individual temperament and predispositions.

Beyond individual life design, Bernakevitch is also known for his work in permaculture and regenerative land design. He is the founder and operator of Permaculture BC, an educational and community hub located in British Columbia, Canada. Additionally, he serves as the principal consultant at All Points Land Design, where he applies his expertise to various landscape projects, ranging from small to large scales. This broader context of his work in ecological design suggests an interconnectedness between designing landscapes and designing lives, both emphasizing sustainable and harmonious systems. His involvement in permaculture further reinforces a philosophy of working with natural systems, which likely extends to his approach to personal life design.