| Greetings!
"Summertime .... and the living is easy."
Many ancient civilizations celebrated midsummer with elaborate rituals, believing that it was a time when the air was filled with magic.
And it continues today -- here in the US, celebrations are plentiful. In New York's Battery Park, people annually gather to sing, dance, eat, and recite chants.
The Seattle neighborhood of Fremont puts on a Summer Solstice Parade and Pageant, which in recent years has included painted naked cyclists.
And at Crimson Dawn Park on Casper Mountain in Wyoming, a large bonfire is held and all are invited to throw a handful of red dirt into the fire hoping the get their wishes granted.
Midsummer signifies a "turning point" ...
It's a time to reassess and renew, to plan for the second half of the year.
Whether you're in the midst of a "Quarterlife Crisis," a "Mid-Career Transition" or a "New Life Chapter," we urge you to embrace this midsummer, to assess your past and reflect upon your future, and to seize all the magic that is in the air.
To inspire you, we present you with this, our Summer Newsletter, filled with articles, assessments and resources. So sing and dance, ride naked, throw dirt, whatever pleases you .... just enjoy!
With Meaningful Regards,
Mark Guterman
and Dan King
The Meaning Guys |
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Feature Article |
Navigating the Middle Passage:
Finding Meaning and Purpose in Mid-Life
by Peter Metzner
Sigmund Freud was once asked in a lecture "What is needed for a successful life?" Surprisingly, he answered in only two words: "Lieben und Arbeiten." To give and receive love -- and to do work that is right for you. His words still resonate today.
If we are not living our values or purpose or expressing our passion in meaningful ways, we will be living someone else's dream. Psychologist James Hollis encourages asking "Whose life am I living?" He says "the task of midlife is to find out who you really are and to claim your life." We need to ask ourselves, "Am I living the expectations of my parents, my spouse, or the organization I am working for?"
When we are not living our lives in purposeful, meaningful ways we experience a sense of emptiness, loss and often wonder if we are missing the point of our existence. Hollis cautions us: "If our work does not support our soul, then the soul will extract its butcher's bill elsewhere.
Wherever the soul's agenda is not served, some pathology will surface in everyday life." Symptoms often include low grade depression, workaholism, obsession with material wealth, or loss of energy, to name a few. When we try to escape these feelings, we develop such diversionary habits as drug or alcohol abuse, over eating, addiction to television, the internet, or even affairs, each offering a fleeting respite from the emptiness. But no matter the diversion, the symptoms will recur unless we make changes that will bring authentic happiness and satisfaction to our work and lives.
Two of the most striking predictors of a person's longevity can be found in the answers to two questions, says Nortin Hadler, MD at UNC's Medical School: "Do I like what I do? and "Do I have a satisfying social support network?" Meaningful work and satisfying relationship are crucial to health and happiness.
So how do we answer these questions affirmatively? How can we use the messages of our emotions or body to guide us to the richer, fuller and happier lives that are our birthright? Psychologist Erik Erickson highlights two essential tasks for adulthood and mid life: Intimacy and Generativity.
According to Erickson, intimacy is the ability to share and confide, to give and receive feedback, and to accept our selves and others. The relationship we have with our self is mirrored in the relationships we have with family, co-workers and friends. We need to be able to form intimate and healthy relationships in our 20s and onward. With healthy and supportive relationships, we are better equipped to address generativity, the essence of midlife.
Generativity (versus stagnation) is simply a focus toward making the world a better place than when you found it. It can occur in some small way, like planting a tree or coaching your child's soccer team - or it can appear in grander acts of volunteerism and philanthropy. Whatever mark you make is based on self awareness and self acceptance. It requires knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses, responsibility for your behaviors, and a connection to your passion, which enables you to express your gifts in unique and meaningful ways. Unleashing your passion sometimes takes a therapist or a coach - other times workshops, reading, journaling, or Dream Work can help you claim your life. It doesn't matter how you get there as long as become more fully aware of what you are in service to the community and world around you. This is the essence of health and happiness in mid-life.
Peter Metzner is President of Dynamic Change, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC., which specializes in personal and executive coaching, facilitation and consulting services that provide individuals, leaders and teams insight and tools that lead toward greater clarity of purpose and mission. As a Associate Coach for MeaningfulCareers.com, he utilizes Dream Work to awaken greater self awareness in our clients.
Register for Peter's new teleclass:
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| Visit Our Companion Site |
Career Planning and Management, Inc.
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| The GEN-erator Assessment |
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Does your generational mindset influence your attitudes about work and life? Can you recognize and appreciate each generation's differences?
To learn more about the generational mindsets, take this new one-hour teleclass with Dan King:
July 16th from:
11:00am-12:00pm Eastern
10:00am-11:00am Central
9:00am-10:00am Mountain
8:00am-9:00am Pacific
4:00pm-5:00pm in UK
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| We're Looking For A Few Good Coaches |
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If you are a coach, counselor, or change agent who is passionate and committed to the idea of meaningful work, we'd like to hear from you.
Affiliate Training and Certification Program
Starts July 16, 2008
Join us for our first training program for experienced professionals to help you become more effective in working with clients in their quest for meaningful work -- and to grow to the next level in your own work.
The program will be delivered in teleclass format and run for 13 consecutive weeks starting April 16 and ending July 9. You will work directly with us, Mark and Dan, as we take you through our history, philosophy and model along with techniques that have proven useful and effective with our clients. Several sessions are dedicated to enhancing your one-on-one, group and teleclass coaching and training skills. Classes run weekly for one hour from:
12:00-1:00pm Eastern
11:00am-12:00pm Central
10:00-11:00am Mountain
9:00-10:00am Pacific
5:00-6:00pm in UK
In addition to class time, there will be regular, between class assignments, as well as on-going e-mail communication and support.
The regular fee for this training and a one year license is $3,500 -- but for this first program we're discounting the fee to $2,500. Your participation entitles you to:
13-Hours of Training
Our 75 page Affiliate's Manual
Opportunity to contribute to MeaningfulCareers.com newsletter and mailing list,
Opportunity to present your own teleclass training
Free participation in all existing teleclasses
Use of the MeaningfulCareers name and logo on your materials to enhance your practice
To find out more about the specific qualifications and how to apply, please visit our website:
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