At the beginning of our work life, we don’t count for much. We’re neophytes in a sea of experts. We aim our sights to attain competence and mastery and be looked at as ‘the man’ who’s been through it, has the experience and knows how to get shit done.
When we leave our careers, we are no longer ‘the man’ we just used to be. It can be a mind-trip of monumental proportions to find our place in the world when someone else slides into the spot in which we previously resided.
It’s safe to say this can be a rough place for many men (and women). To be unceremoniously or ceremoniously dethroned can leave you with very little to hold on to.
But Chapter X can provide you with the opportunity to reimagine relevance.
Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Start small: Take a look at the landscape and see who is in your life that provides meaning.
- Try something that feels good: You could dive off the high board into a pool filled with jello (that might feel good?) or you could consider trying some activities that have a positive impact on someone else. (In other words, get out of your head and focus on something or someone other than who you used to be.)
- Make it an aim: Add an action to your calendar that gets you away from sitting in front of the computer or television.
- Ask for help: Talk to others and find out what’s working and what’s not.
Your salad days might be over, but you have a garden of goodness to plant for the future. Stop thinking about yesterday.
