Toward Balanced Man or Woman

Let us suppose you aim at becoming a conscious man or woman, and escaping from the circle of mechanical humanity. You do not, of course, understand what this means—that is, you do not understand your aim.

To become No. 5 or 6 or 7 Man or Woman, you must first become No. 4 Man or Woman—that is, Balanced Man or Woman, one in whom all your centers work rightly—Intellectual, Emotional, Instinctive-Moving. Now to become balanced you must begin to notice what center in you predominates and interferes with the proper development of your other centers.

Maurice Nicoll, “Personal Aim" in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol. 1, p. 174)