INTRO
The years from 45 to 60 or so are regarded as middle years in adult development. But many people fail to navigate that transition well and get stuck, or worse move forward carrying old, unnecessary baggage. How well you deal with losses in your life is at the centre of that. In this episode, Rob discusses loss, grief and moving forward with a lightness in your step.

WHAT WE COVER

• Transitioning through phases of life
• Midlife 45-60 years of age
• Getting stuck not properly dealing with what needs to be left behind
• Not refreshing your identity suitable for older life stages
• Undealt-with loss can trip us up as we progress in life
• Major losses - marriage, a parent, a child, a career, your wealth, physical etc
• Minor losses - illness, loneliness, a disappointment, lockdown freedoms etc
• All lives carry gains and advantages, as well as losses
• To move on effectively, you need to grieve your losses well
• Moving from earlier adulthood to later requires transition
• Accepting what you no longer have or no longer exists
• Shifting some of your values
• The young-old polarity - a psychosocial reality
• The red sports car, big motorbike, dressing like a 30-year-old
• Recapturing the sense they had from youth
• Revisiting your old favourite music from 30 years ago - happy memories
• Some losses you never recover from 100%
• But we shouldn’t debilitated by them forever
• Follow a process of identifying, accepting and grieving.
• How was your 2021?
• Moving forward to 2022 feeling lighter and freer.

HOW TO WORK THIS INTO OUR LIFE

• Spend focused time alone
• Identify and write down your main losses
• Take each one, and look it squarely in the eyes
• Accept it - say so out loud
• Feel it - accept the feeling you’re experiencing
• Grieve it properly
• Decide to leave it behind - let it slip away.
• Focus on what you do value - what do you want now?
• Look for relevant ways to make them real in your life from now on.