Hi there Reader,
Welcome to this edition of Meaningful eMail with the most recent takeaway and updates linked here at the top, and then a full article for your consideration.
Grab what's helpful today, then save others for future reference. You never know when you or someone in your network could use a boost!
Recent Takeaways & Updates
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"The 100-year Life" by Gratton and Scott
An excellent book discussing the impacts of longer lives and how to address those! Amazing research as well as tips to implement in our own lives. Check out my LinkedIn video on this book or....
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Let's Explore
Making Change
It’s been a week or so since I finished “The 100-year Life” and I am still so inspired by how they reframe aging and longevity. I couldn’t fit all of the awesome takeaways in a snackable video and blog post, so in today’s email I’ll cover another one - the impact of transitions.
The only constant in life is change, as they say. It seems this saying is even more relevant today than when Heraclitus supposedly said it back in the 6th century BC. Back then, the ancient Greeks saw an average lifespan of about 35 years. Here in the 21st century AD, we now are seeing average lifespans approaching 100 years. So we are experiencing way more change than he did - even the rate and pace of change is changing.
The importance of transitions
And as it turns out, according to research presented in “The 100-year Life,” those who are open to change and who spend time processing transitions enjoy life much more than those who resist change and ignore the growth opportunities transitions provide.
This ability to handle transitions well is actually one of the top ‘assets’ listed under what the authors call ‘intangible assets’ - the assets such as our health, relationships, and knowledge which are as important to an enjoyable longer life than the traditional ‘tangible assets’ such as our home, savings, and investments.
Along with the research, the authors give us three key tools to help us handle transitions more smoothly:
- Self-knowledge
- Dynamic/diverse networks
- Openness to change
These tools are ones we each can learn, practice and grow.
Self-knowledge
This one has absolutely been THE most important element in my own journey towards a meaningful second half. Getting to know myself again and in much deeper aspects has really strengthened my confidence and provided clarity in my purpose and direction.
Coaching, solitude, journaling, personal development books are just a few of the many paths available toward deeper self-knowledge. If you’d like additional and/or specific tools, send me an email!
Dynamic/diverse networks
Our close circle of friends and family certainly help us manage change, but really our full wide network can help us no matter how thin the connection might be. The authors helped me remember that our networks are more than helping each other with favors and assistance. One of the more important benefits of our networks is the proximity to diverse knowledge. When we hang out with people who are in different industries or religions, who are different races, ages, nationalities, we expand our brains in so many ways.
And it turns out we are also more likely to hear about new opportunities - whether for a new job, investment, hobby, or even love interest - from our weaker connections than our stronger or closer ones. The friend-of-a-friend level is apparently where it’s at!
Openness to change
Our lives are ruled by habits. It’s human nature to naturally repeat routines. But then any shift in our habits and routines can be a bit stressful. Something new and different can feel uncomfortable at first. But the more we accept and even play with change the more resilient we become. The authors suggest even small shake-ups every so often in our daily habits are a great way to get our brains and hearts more comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Neoplasticity
Out of all this talk about change and transitions, neoplasticity is perhaps my favorite aspect. Research is showing more signs that our brains are pretty much like a muscle. The more we use it, the stronger it gets. Yes, it does shrink as we age, but by using it, by challenging ourselves through tiny transitions for instance, we can change how it operates and aid in its recovery. And conversely, NOT using it makes it brittle and feeble. So it's really in our best interest to embrace change and practice our transition skills!
And that leads up to one of my big takeaways from “The 100-year Life” - change isn’t just the only constant in life, change is imperative to an enjoyable, longer life! It’s all in how we manage it!
PS: When you're ready to get to know yourself better, I'd love to be your guide. Checkout my Meaningful Mid-Life Momentum program!
