Integrate Development with Growth (LP)

Invest optimally in strategies that promote both development and growth

In nature, the most successful systems don't choose between development and growth, they pursue both simultaneously. Development refers to increasing complexity, capability, and sophistication, while growth involves expanding in size or scale. The Life's Principle "Integrate Development with Growth" reminds us that true optimization happens when we invest in strategies that advance both, moving from simple to complex while continuously educating and encouraging advancement at every stage.

Nature's Example: The Beehive

Bees are master architects who integrate development with growth. As their colony expands, they construct hexagonal cells that create an extraordinarily strong natural shell structure. Their honeycomb is a three-dimensional architecture that maximizes both strength and efficiency.

The results are remarkable: a comb made of just 40 grams of wax can support approximately 1.8 kilograms of honey, a 45:1 strength-to-weight ratio. Bees invest optimally in strategies that promote both the development of structural sophistication and the growth of colony capacity, never prioritizing one at the expense of the other. The hive becomes stronger and more complex as it grows larger. asknature.org

Human Design Example: Stokke Convertible Crib

The Stokke convertible crib system embodies this principle by growing and developing with the user from birth through about age 10. When a baby is first placed in the crib, the bed is small, nest-like, and oval-shaped; perfectly suited to a newborn's needs. As the child grows, the bed can be changed: it can be lowered for safety, opened to accommodate a larger body, and continuously modified without requiring parts to be replaced.

This approach recognizes an important developmental reality: children form deep attachments to their familiar sleeping environments, making transitions from crib to toddler bed emotionally challenging. By offering conversion kits that allow the bed to evolve alongside the child, Stokke integrates growth with development, creating a sleeping solution that gets more sophisticated as the child matures. stokke.com