by David Brown
A midlife crisis is often spoken about in negative terms. It’s a time of uncertainty, self-doubt, and even depression. But what if we looked at midlife crises differently? What if, instead of viewing them as a period of turmoil, we saw them as an opportunity for growth? Below, we’ll explore how a midlife crisis can be a positive turning point in your life.
The Benefits of a Midlife Crisis
A midlife crisis can be an unsettling time, but it can also be a time of tremendous growth. If you view your midlife crisis as an opportunity instead of a challenge, you may find that you can achieve things you never thought possible. Some of the benefits of experiencing a midlife crisis include:
• It can help you reassess your priorities.
A midlife crisis can be a wake-up call that allows you to see what’s truly important to you. It’s often during this time that people realize that they’ve been chasing the wrong things and that they need to make some changes in their lives.
• It can give you a sense of perspective.
When everything is going well, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and lose sight of the bigger picture. A midlife crisis can help you to step back and see the forest for the trees. You may find that you can put your problems into perspective and see them for what they are.
• It can motivate you to make positive changes.
A midlife crisis can be just the push you need to make some long overdue changes in your life. Maybe you’ve always wanted to start your own business or get in shape but haven’t had the motivation to do so. A midlife crisis can provide that much-needed push to make those changes finally.
• It can help you find your true purpose.
Many people go through life without knowing what they want to do with their lives. If you’re lucky, a midlife crisis can help give you some clarity on what your true purpose is. Once you know what you’re meant to do with your life, you can start living with more intention and meaning.
A midlife crisis doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you can embrace it and see it as an opportunity for growth, it can be one of the most transformative periods in your life. So next time someone tells you they’re going through a midlife crisis, wish them luck—they just might come out on the other side better than ever!
by David Brown
There are many ways to answer the question, Who are you living for? Looking at it from an altruistic perspective, we could say that we live to serve our communities. Answering the question from a parent’s lens, we could say that we live to provide and support our families. From an individualistic perspective, we might say that we live to achieve our dreams and fulfill our potential.
No matter how we answer the question, it is essential to remember that the way we live our lives should reflect what matters most to us. If we live for ourselves, then our lives should be about selfish pursuits. If we live to serve others, our lives should be focused on giving back.
The important thing is that we know the reason behind our actions. Why are we working so hard? What motivates us to keep going even when things get tough? Knowing the answer to these questions can help us lead more fulfilling lives.
Are you living for other people?
When we post to social media or go out of our way to help a stranger, what drives us to do that? Do we want to portray a life on social media that makes us look like we have it all? Are we trying to show perfection? Are we helping the stranger because we want to be seen as a good person? Or is it because we genuinely care about other people and want to improve their lives?
It’s essential to think about our motivations behind our actions because that can help us live more fulfilling lives. If we only do things to get something in return, we might feel empty or dissatisfied. But if we do things because we genuinely care about others and want to make a difference in the world, we will likely find more satisfaction in our lives.
Immanuel Kant spoke about our motivations as well. He said that we should always act so that we can also will our actions to become a universal law. In other words, we should only do things that we would want everyone else to do.
Putting your life out there
There are a lot of people that like to live their lives out loud on social media—posting pictures of food, posting every update imaginable about their lives. There are a lot of people that are anxious about their portrayals on social media. They are worried about what other people will think of them if they post too much or don’t post enough.
This way of living can be draining, and take away from our genuine connections with others. We might find ourselves comparing our lives to the lives we see on social media and feeling like we don’t measure up.
It’s important to remember that social media does not accurately portray reality. People only post the highlights of their lives, not the mundane day-to-day tasks that make up most of our lives. We shouldn’t compare our behind-the-scenes footage to someone else’s Hollywood production and feel bad about ourselves.
What’s the point?
We need be comfortable with ourselves. As we are, not the fake version. We need to live for ourselves, and act in ways that serve our personal moral and ethical needs. If we act solely for the benefit of image, we have missed the opportunity to be ourselves. IF we post the picture with the thought of “I wonder how many likes this will get?” We have lost before we have begun.
If you have ever been afraid to show who you really are, look inside and discover why? Why bother to worry about the opinions of others? Do you think they are worrying about you?
Probably not.
Live for yourself. Be a good person. Work hard. Do these things for you. Not because you feel you need to to appease your friends/family/followers.
Be unapologetically you.
by David Brown
In Viktor Frankl’s writing, the topic of logotherapy is discussed. Within that framework, the concept of how we find meaning or purpose in our lives comes in three forms. The first is focused on actions creating meaning. This meaning comes from doing things, having experiences, and creating memories. It is the meaning we often think of when discussing living a full life.
While this is the least discussed, it is an important topic to examine further. It makes us question the entirety of our motivations for completing tasks – what could be more important than finding out why we’re doing what we’re doing?
The happiest people have a connection between their actions and their vision of society. More importantly, they can connect how their efforts improve the world. A person with this outlook can see their own life as valuable, and they are constantly reminded of the importance of their actions – they know that they’re not just going through the motions but making a real impact.
The concept of finding your meaning through actions is again taught in the fable of the three masons. The masons are each asked what they are doing.
The first says he is laying bricks, the second says he is building a wall, and the third says he is creating a cathedral.
The first two have a job to do, and they see their task as simply completing that job. The third mason has a higher purpose. He is building something that others will use, lasting long after he is gone.
The three masons provide a great example of how we can find meaning in our lives. The first two are Content with simply completing their task, while the third has a higher purpose and sees his actions as having a more significant meaning. This gives him a sense of satisfaction that the other two do not have.
Frankl is making the point that to have fulfillment, we must find the vision behind our actions. So, ask yourself, what is your vision? Are you a police officer? Have you lost sight of how important that job role has become? If so, remember that you are not just doing a job. You are fulfilling a higher purpose. Remember that what you are doing matters, and it is up to you to make it count.
It is no wonder that society is fighting over who supports the police. Society forgot for a while how vital that role is. Now we see rising murder rates, thefts, and violent crimes. While it may not always seem like it, the action of policing contributes to a better quality of life and society.
Find meaning in your every day. Put actions into vision. Be a beacon of hope to those around you.
by David Brown
Your living room and bedroom are your sanctuaries. But we all have to share our yards with the neighbors. The yard is the image we created and chose to share with the world.
Luckily, taking care of the yard can be a great way to get to know your neighbors better. You’re bound to run into your neighbors occasionally when you’re out mowing the lawn or trimming the hedges. Instead of just giving them a wave and moving on, take a moment to stop and chat. Ask them about their day or their weekend plans. You may be surprised at how much you have in common.
While retreating can be easier, parts of our lives are still forward-facing. We interact with customers and coworkers each day. Our stakeholders are what drive innovation.
How can we apply this to the workplace?
In many ways, the workplace is like our yards. We share common spaces with our coworkers and want to ensure that those spaces are well-kept and presentable. But just like with our neighbors, we often don’t take the time to get to know our coworkers as well as we should.
Leaders are different than bosses. Bosses hide in their offices and think that if they’re doing their job, everyone else should be too. But that’s not always the case. Your employees are people too, with their own lives and problems. If you take the time to get to know them, you may find that you have more in common than you thought. You may even be able to help them with their problems.
When you’re out and about in the workplace, stop for just one minute – no matter where or what task has called your attention–to chat with each person about their experiences this week; ask questions if needed! You might be surprised at how much closer you become due to taking the time to get to know your coworkers on an individual level. You’ll find that it makes working together more enjoyable and helps create new avenues where problems can quickly resolved because everyone involved knows precisely who is looking into things from different angles.
by David Brown
Becoming a mentor can benefit both the mentor and the mentee. Mentors often enjoy a sense of satisfaction from helping others reach their potential. In addition, mentoring can help keep you sharp and up-to-date on industry trends, as you constantly learn new things from your mentee. And finally, as a mentor, you develop essential networking connections that could lead to future opportunities.
Sounds great, right? Yet, I am frequently asked how to get started when discussing mentorship. Most companies boast mentorship abilities yet, have no official guidebook on where to start.
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a professional willing to offer a mentee career advice and leadership skills. The mentor’s responsibilities include meeting with the mentee regularly, providing support and guidance, and answering any questions the mentee may have. Some common yet unsurprising questions mentors are asked include:
- – How can I change careers?
- – Should I go to graduate school?
- – How do I network?
- – What are the best ways to market myself?
- – How do I negotiate a salary?
- – What should I wear for my job interview?
What’s in it for me?
The benefits of being a mentor are many. Mentors often enjoy a sense of satisfaction from helping others reach their potential. In addition, mentoring can help keep you sharp and up-to-date on industry trends, as you constantly learn new things from your mentee. And finally, as a mentor, you develop essential networking connections that could lead to future opportunities.
Mentors have the opportunity to develop essential networking connections with other professionals in their industry. These connections could lead to future options, such as job openings or business partnerships. In addition, mentorship relationships often result in solid friendships that last for many years. According to a study by the National Mentoring Partnership, mentored youth are 52% more likely to enroll in college and are almost twice as likely to be employed.
How do I become a mentor?
There are several ways to become a mentor. The best way to find out how to become one is by contacting your local chapter of The Association for Talent Development (ATD). They will be able to provide you with more information on becoming a mentor and connect you with other professionals in your area who are also mentors. You can also search online for resources that cater specifically to mentoring relationships. Many websites and articles offer tips on how to be an effective mentor.
How do I find the right mentee?
The best way to find a mentee is by networking with people in your industry or field. You can also reach out to professional organizations or schools that offer programs for mentor-mentee relationships. Once you have found a few potential mentees, setting up an initial meeting is crucial to get to know each other and see if there is a good fit. During this meeting, you should discuss expectations, goals, and commitments. It is also essential to ensure that you are both on the same page in terms of frequency and duration of meetings and communication style.
What to do during the mentoring process?
During the mentoring relationship, meeting regularly and discussing both the mentor’s and mentee’s goals is essential. The mentor should offer support and guidance while allowing the mentee to take charge of their career development. It is also vital to provide feedback and be available to answer any questions the mentee may have. In addition, the mentor should help the mentee develop a network of professionals in their industry.
Possible challenges of being a mentor
While being a mentor can be an enriching experience, some challenges come with the territory. One challenge is finding the time to commit to regular meetings and discussions. Another challenge is dealing with difficult personalities or situations. For example, if a mentee is going through a career transition, they may feel frustrated or anxious. Mentors must be patient and understanding while providing honest feedback and guidance.
Mentoring can be an advantageous experience for both the mentor and mentee. It is an opportunity to learn new things, gain essential industry connections, and make a difference in someone’s career. If you are thinking about becoming a mentor, reach out to your local ATD chapter or search online for resources on how to get started.
Mental Health and Mentorship
Mentorship is also an excellent way for people to gain access to mental health services. Many times, people do not feel comfortable seeking help from a professional or may not have access to mental health services. A mentor can provide emotional support and guidance during difficult times. They can also offer advice on how to deal with mental health issues. In addition, mentors can connect their mentees with resources such as therapy or medication if needed.
The benefits of mentorship are vast and diverse. Mentors have the opportunity to learn new things, make valuable connections within their industry, and provide guidance and support to those who need it most – all while improving their own and their mentee’s mental well-being in the process.
