But, then, there are the mantras (or mindsets) that we subconsciously repeat frequently, often purely through habit. These mantras can potentially be anything but liberating. They can confine how we show up in life.
The first half of life is often defined by four mantras/mindsets:
- “I AM what I do” (achievement)
- “I AM what others say about me” (image)
- “I AM what I have” (status)
- “I AM what I control” (power)
It’s around midlife that many of us realize that these mantras are roadblocks to living a good life. While these mantras may have served us, they now feel like empty calories. They’re not making us happy.
What if your new mantra after 50 was “I AM WHAT SURVIVES ME” (thank you, Erik Erikson)?
What kind of purpose, legacy, and desire to be a good ancestor might sprout out of this alternative sentiment?
Try sitting down one weekend when you have a little extra time for reflection. Imagine that you’ve been handed a ledger to account for your life: who are you, what you stand for, who you have helped, what seeds you have planted, and how you want to be remembered.
Make a list of what will survive you and how you might invest more in this part of your life moving forward. You might just have a “Baja-aha” setting foot on our MEA Baja campus.