Sharing your midlife wisdom is a gift

Being a Sage

During midlife, you have the opportunity of sharing your midlife wisdom, which can be a source of vitality through the contribution you make to others.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in his book From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older offers a way of looking at aging that taps into one's wisdom.

He distinguishes a sage as someone who has the wisdom that comes with age and experience. And "Sage-ing® is a process of approaching aging as a positive journey filled with wisdom, learning and spirituality. It affirms the importance of the elder years and teaches us how to harvest life's wisdom and transform it into a legacy for future generations."

He also talks about "elderhood," which is the "condition or quality of being an elder. Elder is a manner of being in the latter portion of life that results from an older man or woman answering the informal call from the family or community to accept the mantle of elderhood. Once having accepted this calling, elders are known by their interest in mentoring, sharing their long life experiences, modeling a sense of oneness with the Earth and often, acting as the spiritual agent of one's community." (Wikipedia)

It's my experience that people are hard-wired to contribute to others - to make a difference. It's natural. As an elder, what a gift it is to share my midlife wisdom! That's the primary reason I'm a coach. It's also the driving force in my life - to contribute to the transformation of others!.

Check out this excellent resource on midlife wisdom by Kim Krisco, a pioneer in the coaching arena, who explores the power of conversation and making distinctions in becoming more aware of ourselves (mindful).


Sharing Your Wisdom

• What experiences, knowledge, gifts and talents are you willing to share?

• What calls you, what inspires you, what legacy do you want to leave?

• What groups of people or organizations attract you?

• What cause(s) and forms of work can you identify in which you can share your wisdom?

My recommendations

• Take on a daily practice of meditation

• In a journal, record daily (evening) what you notice in terms of your thinking, emotions, attitudes, points of view, body sensations

• Assess your gifts, talents, knowledge, skills, attributes and list them

• Create a profile of the type of people you most enjoy associating with and where you think you can best contribute your gifts, etc.

• List the actions you're willing to take in which you'd be sharing your wisdom.

Dr. Fred


Listen to this

lively conversation between Dr. Frank and myself about midlife wisdom.
To hear other interviews and to subscribe to our podcast
visit our midlife crisis coping podcast page.