Middle Age – Where do I begin again?

I recently commenced coaching an exciting, entrepreneurial, high energy, visionary minded, big-hearted guy entering middle age. Sean’s business was now consolidated and strong, and he had become very good at leading his staff and business. Things were on the up. But in the midst of his success was genuine pain. “Where do I begin?” he asked. His question was born out of the need all of us have to win where it matters most. At home…. in our marriage and family, in our finances and future.

More often than not, middle age is the time when most of us intuitively stop and question our value. The brave ones often perform major surgery on their lives when they look back on their success and restructure for significance.

Instead of dealing with his immediate, urgent demands, I asked Sean to take a breath and tell me what he wanted life to look like in ten years time. In a short while, he had emotionally distanced himself from today’s challenges and began envisioning a brilliant future. And a smile reappeared on his face.

“The big picture always puts the small picture in perspective.” D.S.

“It is easier to deal with the pressures of today when they appear as smaller pieces of a larger picture.” D.S.

Sean couldn’t believe what he began to write. His words described healthy relationships, changed circumstances, flexible and enjoyable income streams, and a man in pursuit of significance, not merely success.

“Life is a game of decades, not years.” Bill Gates has been quoted as saying. “We overestimate what we can achieve in two years and underestimate what we can achieve in ten.”

Peace came for Sean with perspective, as it will for all of us. He relaxed as he discovered time was on his side, and that he could accumulate the resources he needed to leave the disappointments of today behind, and head into a better place.

Where do we begin again? At the end. Down the track. Not here in the midst of our pressure. Beginning again is easy and enjoyable when we do it this way.