The Spiritual Task of the Second Half of Life

It can be easy to become preoccupied with the material aspects of life—getting an education, making money, raising children, paying a mortgage. This is why so many men reach middle age, look around, and ask, "Is this it?" What many write off as a middle-age crisis is actually a transition into the second half of life. And that second half of life contains its own set of tasks—spiritual tasks that often go overlooked or unrecognized.

Letting Go of Ego-Driven Goals
The common thread among the tasks in the first half of life is that they are ego-driven goals. They are external focuses driven by ambition and a desire for recognition—things like getting that dream car or buying the bigger house. In contrast, the spiritual task in the second half of life is about letting go of these ego-driven goals and instead refocusing on something more internally driven. It’s about finding meaning in life from within rather than from without.

This doesn’t mean giving up on your dreams or settling for less than you desire; rather, it means learning to let go and accept whatever circumstances may arise...without becoming attached to any particular outcome. This kind of acceptance leads to true inner peace because it releases us from our expectations and allows us to find joy even in difficult times. 

The Spiritual Task at Hand
So what does this spiritual task look like? Well, it looks different for everyone depending on their unique circumstances, but there are some common threads that tend to run throughout this task in one form or another. These include things like cultivating self-awareness, exploring your personal values and purpose, connecting with nature, discovering new experiences outside your comfort zone, engaging in meaningful relationships with others and yourself, developing mindfulness practices such as meditation or yoga, learning new skills or hobbies related to creativity or spirituality…the list goes on.  

The main point is that you should strive for balance between external pursuits (such as career goals) and internal pursuits (such as personal growth). This helps ensure that you don't neglect either side during this important stage in your life journey—a journey which ultimately offers a greater sense of fulfillment when both sides are equally addressed.