The breakthrough comes when we realize that fulfilment must be generated from the inside. That our deepest human needs such safety, love, recognition, and meaning are not things that are bestowed upon us but rather states that we need to cultivate from within.

For example:

• Safety arises when we trust our own ability to figure things out, regardless of our external circumstances

• Love is felt when we learn to truly love ourselves and are able to BE love, rather than seek it through others

• Recognition becomes real when we realise that we are enough the way we are

• Meaning takes root when we live in alignment with values driven by the soul

This shift from the outside-in to the inside-out is radical.

It challenges everything society teaches us.

And it is the only path to sustainable fulfilment.

To cultivate these needs in practice, you need to strengthen four interdependent dimensions of energy: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Together, they mirror the hierarchy of human needs and create the inner architecture of fulfilment, but they are pursued in parallel.

I call this building your Inner Edge.

1. Physical energy: vitality

At the base is the body. Without physical energy, everything else crumbles. We can speak of purpose and meaning all day, but if our bodies are exhausted or weak, our capacity is limited.

Physical energy is not about chasing peak fitness alone. It is about cultivating vitality, by eating in a way that sustains, moving in a way that strengthens us, and resting in a way that restores.

It is also about taking action and making things happen.

You can activate your physical energy by moving your body daily, eating nourishing foods, and working in cycles that respect natural human rhythms.

2. Emotional energy: belonging and connection

Emotional energy is the fuel of love and belonging.

It is our ability to understand, regulate, and express feelings in a way that nurtures relationships with ourselves and others.

When emotional energy is strong, we feel supported and connected. When it is weak, we experience isolation, conflict, or emotional volatility.

You can activate your emotional energy by cultivating self-awareness, expressing your feelings honestly, and nurturing meaningful relationships through empathy and compassion.

3. Mental energy: clarity and recognition

The modern world is noisy. Attention is constantly pulled in a hundred directions. Mental energy is the ability to focus, to choose where attention goes, and to create clarity amid chaos.

This dimension is what allows us to cut through distraction, prioritize wisely, and achieve in a way that feels purposeful. When mental energy is weak, we drown in busyness without creating impact. When it is strong, we are able to work on our most important goals, using our strengths and creativity.

You can activate your mental energy by creating a reflective practice (e.g. meditation), single tasking, practicing focusing your attention, and working with your strengths.

4. Spiritual energy: Meaning and alignment

At the highest level is spiritual energy: the sense of meaning, purpose, and values that transcends ego. It is not about religion but about a broader connectedness. Spiritual energy asks: Why am I here? What truly matters? What am I serving that is greater than myself?

When spiritual energy is absent, success feels empty. When it is present, even small actions feel infused with significance. It is the ultimate source of congruence, where our outer life reflects our inner truth.

You can activate your spiritual energy by clarifying your values, aligning your actions with them, and connecting to a purpose greater than yourself.

These four energy bodies are not new (they’re found in ancient wisdom texts) and mirror not only Maslow’s needs but also the 7 chakras, values, spiral dynamics, and many other similar frameworks.

What I find fascinating is applying them to today’s modern world, combining them with modern performance science, and making them tangible and actionable.

I teach all this in my course The Inner Edge, which is now open for enrolment. Apply here if you’re interested.

To see the difference, imagine two versions of the same person.

Without a strong inner edge, they wake tired, rely on caffeine to push through their day, and they struggle with irritability and disconnection in relationships. Their mind is scattered, drowning in emails and tasks. And deep down they know that they are meant for more, but they don’t make a change.

Now contrast this with a strong inner edge: they wake energized.. They meet challenges with emotional maturity and as a result are respected and well-liked. Their mind is focused and clear, and they are productive during the day. Their actions are guided by purpose, so achievements feel deeply meaningful.

Even if their outer circumstances are similar, their inner experience is dramatically different.

Here are five practical steps to get going:

• Awareness and assessment: Notice which of the four energy bodies (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) is strong and which one is lacking most. Get specific and the underlying reasons for this.

• Designing your Inner Edge blueprint: Create a vision: how do I want to live physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually? What practices, values, and rhythms will support this?

• Removing inner barriers: Identify and challenge limiting beliefs, old stories, or fears that sabotage growth. Much of the work lies in unlearning.

• Focus on one micro action at a time: Pick one area that you want to change and work on that for 15-30 days. Learn and adapt along the way.

• Integrating new reflection rituals: Embed weekly and monthly moments of reflection where you look back on how it’s going and reflect on what you want to change. Then make a decision about whether to keep the same micro-action, modify it, or adopt a new one. Stay agile along the way.

If you want to go take this further and master your energy and performance in a small, high-impact group, apply to my next cohort here. Spots limited to 10 people.