Midlife Compass

There’s no roadmap for navigating midlife. Maps can only take you where others have been. If you’re going to find your way to the next best destination for you, you need a compass, and you need to learn how to use it.

In the first half of life, we play the game by society’s rules. Midlife can be a challenging time, but it can also be a transformative chapter of our lives. As transitions unfold in relationship, career, and life situations, we realize a profound truth. So far, the game of life has been playing us, not the other way around.

Here’s the thing. You can’t win a game you don’t truly want to play. The second half of life provides an opportunity to redefine your path and engage in the game of life on your own terms. It’s time to play your game.

The Midlife Compass is an orientation tool to help you clarify where you really want to head in your life’s next chapter. You can then define where you’re starting from and what you’re starting with. With clear ordinates established, you’re now ready to plot the most efficient path. Finally, You’ll learn the skills and habits to expedite the journey and make sure you experience plenty of joy and fun along the way.

Clarify Your Destination

In working with hundreds of clients, I find that most already have some clarity about what they want in their lives “what’s next.” Your life is speaking to you because it wants to speak through you. It’s time to hear and heed your life’s call. Tune in and clearly define your “what’s next.”

The Time and Money Trap: The initial answer to the question, “What do I want?” is usually something like “more time” or “more money.” These are not ends. They’re means.¹ Go deeper. Ask yourself, “What would I do with more time?” and “What would I do with more money?” Then ask, “Why?” Ask “Why?” several times. You’ll notice that what you really want in life becomes clearer and is already closer than you initially thought.

Back to the Future: Your becoming lies in being more of what you’ve always been.² Think back to your childhood. As far back as you can remember. What were you like? What did you love to do? Where did you feel the greatest connection and feeling of belonging? The second half of life is often a return to who we’ve always truly been and what we’ve always really wanted.

Clarify Your Starting Point

We don’t know ourselves as well as we think. This is understandable, given the conformity and comparison culture society instills in us through institutionalized education and occupation. Media platforms amplify this confusion. It’s time to stop being distracted and define who you really are and where you’re really at.

Escape the Identity Trap: You are so much more than the roles you play and the goals you’ve pursued so far.³ Take some time to rediscover your core values and guiding principles. Reconnect with your innate talents and interests. Be intentional about who you spend time with. This will all help you better define who you really are, what you’re really good at, and where you really belong.

Take an Inventory of Your Assets: Sure, take stock of your finances and holdings, but go deeper. How are you investing your precious time, attention, and energy in addition to your money? Is the return on those investments getting you closer to what really matters to you now? It’s probably time to recapture and reallocate⁴ those assets.

Clarify Your Plan

Too often, we confuse playing with a loose collection of unrelated tactics with a strategy. Now that you have a clearer sense of your goal and starting point, what’s your plan to get closer to what you want? What got you where you are won’t get you where you want to be. It’s time to get real.

Less Is More: Your plan is a system. An efficient system^5` includes only the necessary elements it needs to function. What are the three things that you need to achieve your goal and reach your destination? When you can create a plan that includes only the essential steps, you clear all the cruft and make executing it more effortless.

Micro-Stepping: Too often, we overthink our plan and overestimate what we need to do and what we can accomplish in the short term. Progress is not made through hustle and grind. Progress comes through a daily discipline of small steps. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Take the right steps at the right time in the right sequence. You’ll have more fun and get there faster.

Clarify How to Close the Gap

Raise the Floor: As you micro-step toward your destination, you’ll notice some elements of your plan work better than others. You may be tempted to push the ceiling on what’s working well, but improving the elements that are not functioning optimally will boost your system’s efficiency and effectiveness much more. Resist the urge for higher highs and improve your rolling average by raising the floor⁶ instead.

No One Wins Alone: The archetype of the self-made individual⁷ is a dangerous myth. Relationships are the most significant and most accessible force multipliers you can leverage to expedite your journey. Employing trusted guides and finding fellow travelers sooner rather than later. They catalyze your progress and bring greater joy to your adventure.

Conclusions

The problem with maps⁸ is they can only take you where others have already been. They can't reveal the best course for you. Only a compass can do that.

Maps require obedience. Compasses cultivate empowerment.

Employing a compass over a map requires curiosity and courage. A willingness to learn as you go. It allows for course correction and tacking. The compass also invites adventure and fellow travelers.

Are you ready to play your game on your terms without compromise? The principles in this midlife compass will help you get going and play your game all in and full out.

I’ve seen clients and community members achieve extraordinary things by employing these principles. They’ve recovered from broken relationships and forged healthier ones. They’ve moved on from unhappy careers and found more meaningful opportunities. They’ve created businesses that fit around and fund a lifestyle built around what matters most to them.

It’s your turn. Use this compass to build identity, forge meaning, and step into possibility. I look forward to witnessing and celebrating your progress!

Go Further

Creative on Purpose’s Catalyst offerings⁹ provide content, coaching, and community to help you become the kind of person who gets clear and closer to what you want in life.

Scott Perry, Chief Difference-Maker at Creative on Purpose

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