Welcome to a new week!
I can’t wait to dive in with you here today. I spent the week in a business boot camp that was really inspiring. Everyone was there to level up their skills, their mindset + their service in the world. It felt good to be with ‘my people’. I made some new connections + now have some new accountability partners in my life. People who inspire me to ‘keep going’.
I hope this issue of The LIFT does a little bit of that for you.
Welcome to The LIFT
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THE SHIFT
A few months ago, I saw something on social media that really stuck with me. I wish I could remember the source, but I’ll paraphrase the thought.
What if instead of thinking of age/life as something linear/horizontal, we saw it as levels/vertical?
Think about that for a minute.
What if instead of asking “How old are you?”
The question became “What level are you on?”
Don’t you LOVE that?
That completely changes the game, doesn’t it?
I’ve never been into video games, but I think I can carry out this analogy long enough to make a point. Let’s find out.
If you’ve ever played a video game, you know how most of them work. You start at Level 1 + you play the game to progress + unlock the next level.
I feel like life is a lot like that.
The problem is, we think of it more like a horizontal line. With a start + a finish. Rather than a game that progresses with each level attained.
To make it worse, in our culture, we have sold ourselves this idea that you work really hard + give it your all (no matter the cost) for a certain number of years + then you ‘retire’ + can live out your final days with your feet up or traveling the world.
Of course, that’s not exactly how it plays out for most people. But, we still seem to have this idea that if we put in our time playing the game, we earn the right to stop playing.
Hmmm. I’ve never heard of a video game like that. I’m pretty sure most of them just keep unlocking new levels until you get blown up. LOL.
Each time you reach a new level in the game, it gets a little harder. A little trickier.
Some levels go fast. Others drag on. Some levels seem easier than others because they use skills you are good at. Other levels you get stuck on + can’t seem to escape.
THE PACE
A friend of mine who is getting close to retirement shared with me that she can’t wait to retire because she is now realizing that taking care of herself requires so much time - especially the older she gets.
Meal prepping. Exercising. Doctor appointments. Self-care. It’s so time-consuming + hard to juggle while working full-time.
Isn’t that the truth?
You’d think you’d have more time as you get older, but in some ways, it feels like you have a lot less.
I know a lot of retired people who can’t believe they ever had time for a full-time job. Isn’t it funny how time bends?
I certainly feel that way when I look back at raising two kids. How did I ever manage all of that while running a company? Volunteering? And, how did I manage to take care of myself on top of all of that?
Today, I barely have time just for my own self-care + work + relationships, I can’t imagine how I would fit two children + all of their care into that equation. Yet, somehow I did.
Our neighbors recently welcomed their first baby into the world. This has sparked several conversations between my husband + me as we reflect back on that journey. It is SO much work!
When you look back at those times in life that were super demanding - whether it was a huge project, education, raising a family, overcoming illness, loss - isn’t it mind-blowing to think you somehow managed?
It’s fascinating really. What we are capable of + then as we age, we think there is ‘no way’ we could handle that now.
I don’t know if it’s that we get tired because we overdid it during those early years or whether our priorities change + we just get bored with all of it, but we definitely tell ourselves we deserve to slow down.
Or sometimes we just resign ourselves to accept that we can’t do it anymore. That it’s somehow too late.
Maybe we are capable of a lot more than we choose to take on? Maybe we should keep ‘leveling up’.
Of course, I’m not saying we should run ourselves ragged to the end. I have found great beauty in these last few years as I’ve ‘slowed’ down the pace of my life. In fact, I wish I had brought more of this pace into my younger years. I certainly could have. I just didn’t know any better. And, our world isn’t really set up that way.
I’ve shared before that aging is what happens when we stop growing. In fact, that was the title of my first issue of The LIFT two years ago - “Are you growing or aging?”
It’s a delicate line - slowing down to enjoy the rewards of our labor + taking on new adventures in personal growth to keep unlocking the next level.
The game of life is exhausting for sure. Or it can be. Especially when you’ve been around long enough to see that some levels of the game are pure rubbish. Or you learn that the level you were stuck on for so long actually had a secret door where you could have skipped ahead + no one told you.
Sometimes the game seems ridiculous. We humans have certainly gotten ourselves into a mess along the way. Maybe we are headed for total annihilation, but maybe there’s a new level waiting to open up.
And, just when we think it is time to slow down, we realize that’s not really an option.
You gotta keep going!
THE GAME
Much like video games, life doesn’t get ‘easier’ the older you get. Every level gets harder. Requires more nuance. More focus. Trickier moves.
It’s not a matter of slowing down, but a matter of more precision. Focus.
You come into each level not knowing what lies ahead.
You have to slow down a bit to see the pitfalls. To anticipate + avoid the unexpected asteroids at higher levels.
There is less room for error. The odds are greater. And, there are a lot more noobs (aka: newbies) on the field running amok + distracting your game. There are also a lot less active + engaged players to compare notes with.
Staying in the game requires some serious skills + determination.
You don’t slow down to do less. You slow down to do more.
When our girls were growing up, it seemed every time they went through a growth spurt or a new stage, things would be chaotic for a bit. Then, we would get a rhythm going + it would be smooth sailing for a while. But, as soon as we thought things were cruising along great, a new stage would begin. And, the chaos would start all over.
Like any good video game, you walk into the new level not sure what to do or what to expect. That’s what makes it fun. You muster all of your skills + determination to figure it out. With as few explosions as possible.
Okay, I’ve stretched my little analogy far enough.
But, this video game analogy feels more accurate than our current approach to life - which is more like Monopoly. Roll the dice. Gather up the hotels. Be the last one standing.
What if we approached the game of life more like a video game - an adventure that continually unlocks new levels?
And, what if we played the game together? Instead of acting like it’s us against the world?
How would THAT change the game? The rules? The value system?
What if we had respect for the players of life based on their levels?
“Wow, you’re on level 78? That’s amazing! How did you get there? Were there any secrets I should be looking out for? Back doors? Bonus points?”
That right there just sounds a lot more fun, doesn’t it? Plus, it gives us all a reason to connect with people at different levels. So we can understand the game a little better + learn from the wisdom, experience + skills of those ahead of us.
So, what level are YOU on?
I’m on level 55. This level is super interesting. So many things come at you physically, emotionally + culturally. It’s one of those levels where you know every move you make is going to determine how the rest of the game unfolds. If you need any tips just holler! I’m an open book + would love to help you unlock any of the levels I have visited (with the most points you can gather).
Meanwhile, I hope those of you at higher levels are ready to spill the beans for the rest of us on what to expect + any pitfalls to avoid.
I am open + excited to learn from you.
LEVEL UP
The bigger message I want to leave you with - is that maybe it’s time to see the game of life in a new way. Maybe rather than trying to collect more cash + crush your opponent, it’s time to team up + collaborate to unlock a new door. To jump a little higher. To shoot a little straighter. To get excited about reaching that next level. To find your people + play the game together.
I was reminded of this during my boot camp this last week. Just by surrounding myself with like-minded people who were ready to roll up their sleeves + play the game of life a little better, it unlocked new doors for me. I made new connections. Got new tools. It made me see the game a little differently. It got fun again.
If you’re feeling stuck, I just want to remind you how easy it is to shift + move to the next level.
You can make new connections. You can ask for help. You can experiment + play + try some new moves. You can even recover from a total explosion.
Just get out there + level up.
Most importantly, keep enjoying the game! Because, ultimately, that’s all it is.
Do you remember Drew Cary + the tagline from the show “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
The show where everything's made up + the points don't matter!
Keep going + by all means, have some fun!
YOUR MISSION:
As you get back into the game this week, whatever that looks like for you + whatever level you are on, I encourage you to be open to leveling up in a new way. Do something different. Meet someone new. Don’t let yourself be stuck. There are more levels in this game to unlock. More adventures to share. So, grab your joystick + fire away!
IN SUMMARY:
Speaking of joysticks, this week I am hosting a free workshop about hormone health + some of the most overlooked causes of hormonal imbalance. It’s perfect for anyone who is navigating peri/menopause + trying to manage symptoms like insomnia, brain fog, hot flashes + weight gain in a holistic way.
Would LOVE for you to join us! Here’s a link to all of the details: FREE WORKSHOP.
You can learn more about me + my work on my website or follow along with me on Instagram @itMayBeMenopause
See you next week?
Meanwhile - you can read thru the archives here. And, please reach out to me anytime!
Email: karen@itmaybemenopause.com
Instagram: @itmaybemenopause
Great reminder to think of aging as growing and to "level up," thank you!
LOVE THE ANALOGY, Karen! Everything you shared today I needed to hear.
Thank you!
I listened to the audio for the first time and really enjoyed it! I’ll be choosing it from now on. 😉
Oh, and I’m on level 53 and it feels pretty great!