• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Diane Ingram

Empowering You to Actualize Your Purposeful Potential

  • Home
  • Services
    • Coaching
    • Coach Training
    • Speaking: Keynotes & Workshops
    • Meeting Planners
  • Bookstore
  • About Diane
  • Media
    • Speaking Videos
    • Blog
    • Diane Ingram Show
    • Call the Coach Radio Show
    • My Original Songs
  • Contact

Mid-Life Crisis or Opportunity??

January 18, 2011 by Diane 4 Comments

I guess you could say I am going through a mid-life crisis, defined as becoming keenly aware of my impending mortality and all of the parts of my life that are not as I want them to be. At the same time I am experiencing a surge of energy and expansion, an aliveness not quite felt so intensely before.

Many people going through this powerful phase of life choose to focus outward, thinking that their heart’s longing or passion can be found in another human being. That is a shame when that happens; it breaks the hearts of those they love—destroying families in the wake. What a waste! What a missed opportunity!

Carl Jung believed that we are born whole, and then in order to survive the crucible of childhood, lose parts of ourselves. He thought that the main purpose of mid-life was to weather the crisis that arises from this experience of loss and become a whole integrated person again.

This power surge at mid-life is part of a grand design to wake us up and, rather than look for easy comfort and answers outside of ourselves, dig deeply by going inward and asking the hard questions—

“What do I love? What is my purpose on this earth and how with the time I have left can I realize it to the best of my ability; creating a more meaningful second-half of life which positively impacts the world with the gift of who I am?”

We are given the insight and energy to delve into the deep and explore the riches hidden below; if only we wake up and see this, instead of squandering it on distractions of entertainment, food and affairs to keep us asleep and unconscious. It is the hero’s journey: to slay the dragon of fear disguised as complacency and mine the gold within.

So this is the call—a call to your heart to step up and ask the hard questions and take the courageous steps to explore and mine the depths for answers; and then to take action. The world needs your gifts. As long as you walk this earth, it will never be too late to give them.

Everything Changes

What do I hold in my heart today? So much has happened to me
I’ve spent a lifetime feeling the loss, of how life used to be

Fear of change, my constant companion, life throws me curves everyday try to cling to shifting sands, be in control of my fate

Everything changes, that’s the way it is
Yet what is real remains the same
Everything changes, so best to let it go

And become part of the change

Grieving loss, I begin to see, that this is my chance to grow
To ride the tide and to recognize, the wisdom in ebb and flow

I learn from the rhythms of the earth, season’s divine design
As I accept the flow, the flow of life, it heals my heart and mind.

© 2005 Lyrics by Diane Ingram/Music by Chris Farrell

Filed Under: Challenge, Change, Inspiration, Mid-Life, Personal Growth

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carrie Davin says

    January 18, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    Very nice article. I can relate to the poem. I enjoy reading your articles and need to read them more. You have a gift with writing-

  2. Judy Murdoch says

    January 19, 2011 at 11:39 am

    This line moved me deeply:

    “Fear of change, my constant companion”

    Fear of change has been my constant companion and this is a companion who seems not to go away. Rather it is my paying less attention to her.

    Thank you Diane, beautifully said.

    Judy

  3. Owen Marrin says

    January 20, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    Hi Diane, I enjoyed and found relaxation and comfort in your notes this evening.
    Thank you for the lovely thoughts. Wishing you warmth and comfort in this harsh season, from Owen .

  4. Diane says

    January 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Thank you all for your comments and visiting my website. Much love~Diane

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

Contact

Subscribe to my free "Bits of Inspiration" Newsletter and get a free MP3 visualization!

Website by Bright Coconut

Copyright © 2023 · Infinity Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in