Apr 27, 2021
The Mid-life Wake Up ☀
Why this discomfort might be telling you something
The last 12 months have given us all a chance to reflect and perhaps get some perspective on where we’re going in life, and what’s really matters when the chips are down.
For many this has become an existential crisis, often asking questions like “Who am I?” “Why am I doing this?” and “What am I here to do?”.
If you’re feeling this way and think you’re going through a mid-life crisis, chances are you’re not.
Think of it as a mid-life wake up.
I felt it at 40, when I was being called by something deeper. The vision for The Happy Startup School was slowly becoming clearer, and my love for my old work was slowly dwindling.
All those years of knowledge, experience and wisdom coming to the fore to guide us to something new and enriching.
And letting go of what’s not serving us anywhere.
Not the end, but the beginning.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the last decade, it’s that as humans our need change through the different phases of life.
And the brave don’t stand still and ignore this. They act despite the fear.
The best description I’ve heard of this journey is the second mountain, coined by David Brooks in his book of the same name.
A contrast to the first mountain…
“The goals on the first mountain are the normal goals that our culture endorses — to be a success, to be well thought of, to get invited into the right social circles, and to experience personal happiness. It’s all the normal stuff: nice home, nice family, nice vacations, good food, good friends, and so on.”
The second mountain journey is about commitment and community — from me to we.
I explain more here.
Laurence McCahill
Co-founder The Happy Startup School
ps. Join others on their second mountain adventure on 2020 Vision
