This Time
“It’s the traveling down that path to see where it leads - to be curious about the twists and turns - that makes for an interesting adventure, and thus, an interesting life.”
This time. What does it really mean - approaching our sixties, negotiating our sixties...Beyond. If the life you are currently living is exactly the life you want to be living - you’re lucky. One of the few. But if you are like so many women in this phase, perhaps you sense there is something missing, or have a yearning for more.
I believe at this stage in our lives it’s time to check in, and I mean seriously check in. Really pause to self-reflect, consider if the life that you're currently leading is the one you want to live. Is it great as is, is it in need of a little updating and tuning or is it in need of a complete overhaul? This is the time to figure out where you are on that continuum.
Some are fortunate at this stage to have more time, space, financial resources to actively pursue “the thing” - the business, the foundation, the writing or painting or the creating of SOMEthing. Some may not have all the elements of the “perfect storm”. It’s not as easy then but it’s possible to figure it out. And it’s important. Really important. We can lay out all of the reasons why we can’t do this - no time, so many obligations, life’s overwhelm… We can get caught up in the planning and research and talking about… But we aren’t really doing it. Or we can keep it a secret, not talk about it to anyone because… We don’t believe it can really happen, or we don't know how to set about making it happen... Or we are just too tired from all that has happened to this point, or what is happening at this point. There’s just SO MUCH and we are sometimes mired in all of our day-to-day living that we simply don’t have the perspective to figure it out. We may also be scared. Scared to start down the path because we don’t know where it’s going to lead. Scared because once we set out we may have to fully commit - there’s no turning back. And it might require effort and courage.
In my personal experience, all of this is true. There is no turning back and it does require effort and courage. If you are not completely fulfilled and you decide to start down a path to find “the thing” - your thing - you can’t stop. You know too much. You’ve seen too much. You’ve felt too much.
This soulful work is hard, unsettling and puzzling at times. But there are also times of experiencing great enthusiasm as you consider all of the possibilities you can create for yourself. One can feel lit up like, perhaps, they haven't felt in a very long time. The pursuit can be fulfilling, purposeful, hopeful. Not always but there are instances, glimmers of what could be which implores one to ask the question, How could I live more fully in this “turned on, turned up” state?
Yes one can play it “safe”, and stand in place, going nowhere. One might believe that it is a more “comfortable place” to live. I challenge those people to consider that idea more closely. It may be comfortable only because it is familiar, not necessarily because it is good for you, good for your soul.
Whether we find our thing, or we set out in earnest to find it, I’m not sure it matters. It’s the traveling down that path to see where it leads - to be curious about the twists and turns - that makes for an interesting adventure, and thus, an interesting life.
Where are you on the “next act” continuum? What is propelling you forward or what is holding you back?
Please join me in our private fb community to continue the conversation and take steps towards creating and/or enhancing your Next Act! I’d love to connect!
If you’re interested in working with a coach to support, encourage and guide you to discover or enhance your Next Act, I’d love to work with you! Please see my coaching tab to learn more.