Mid-Life Crisis or Opportunity??

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