Finding Meaning In The Second Half of Life

An interview with James Hollis, Ph.D., Jungian analyst and director of the Houston Jung Educational Institute, highlighted the May 22, 2006, edition of Graceful Living: Facing Life Challenges, the weekly radio program Eileen Ravella and I host on www.ktok.com from 4 -5 CDT. Dr. Hollis is author of Finding Meaning In The Second Half of Life as well as a number of other books.

We began by asking Dr. Hollis to comment on how he sees the tasks each of us face during the first phase of our adult years and how those tasks evolve as we approach mid-life and beyond. He responded by talking about our early years as times when we are building our capacities to handle life and deal with the expectations of our parents, teachers, jobs, and relationships. During this period of life, we are developing ego strength so we can cope well with the challenges that are inevitable aspects of becoming independently functioning adults. Once we've mastered these demands and become able to stand firmly with and for ourselves while also honoring our relationships, we're ready to move on to the next major growth phase of life - when we are called to deal with what our souls expect of us.

Various wake-up calls alert us to our soul's agenda that we fulfill the purposes we came into this lifetime to accomplish. These wake-up calls take a variety of forms. It begins to dawn on us that all the things we have accomplished and the material gains we've made don't really satisfy us fully. We may experience depression that doesn't relate to a major loss or to a chemical imbalance. Perhaps we endure a divorce we didn't want or seek. Some become bored or burned out with their professional life. Teen or adult children may be acting out or having difficulty coming to grips with attending to their own separate lives. Illness may strike and cause us to look carefully at how we are investing our precious time on earth. We may notice that we have not been true to our deepest yearnings for connection with our souls and the realm of spirit. We may lose loved ones whose deaths remind us of our own mortality. A series of dreams may haunt us with symbols and suggestions that a course correction is in order in our lives. A nagging sense that more is possible than we are experiencing may trigger us into exploring our inner depths with conscious intention. Addictions that control us may cause such pain in our relationships that we are forced to look at what we are trying to escape by numbing ourselves to our emotional and spiritual life.

Whatever form your wake-up calls take, pay attention! The sooner you listen and heed your soul's call for connection, the sooner you'll start to reap the rewards of living in tune with your life purpose.

You may be thinking that you have no idea what your life purpose could possibly be. If so, you're not alone. Find someone you can trust to talk with about getting more connected with your soul's inner voice. Therapy with an enlightened teacher may help you tune in more fully to yourself, your soul, and the unconscious patterns you've carried with you since childhood that may be blinding you to the bigger picture of your life. Keeping a dream journal is another great choice. Talk with your trusted mentor about your dreams and work together to unlock the messages they send you from your innermost soul self. Pay attention to times when you feel absolutely congruent and peaceful doing whatever it is you are doing at those moments. Feelings of completeness and joy are signals that you're right on course with what is engaging you. Ask for spiritual direction and follow the gentle urgings you hear like "read this book," "turn on the radio - there is something on that you need to hear," or "call this person you've been thinking of," or "write that letter you've been intending to write."

Get curious about who you truly are and what you're here to do. What could be more interesting? What could possibly be more rewarding than truly feeling you're on the life course that fits best for you?

To help yourself along, I suggest you read Dr. Hollis's book. It is a great guide from a wise teacher. And take time to listen to our interview with Dr. Hollis by going to www.gracefullivingradio.com and clicking on the audio button.

Eileen and I hope you'll join us on Sunday afternoons at 4 CDT from whereever you are via www.ktok.com where you can click on Listen Live. Please call us during the program or E-mail us through the web site with your questions and comments. You'll find a listing of upcoming programs on the web site. We've got some wonderful interviews planned including one with my spiritual teacher, Ron Roth, on June 25.