The Obstacle Is the Way

The future will get here a lot quicker than the present ever did

We’ve had our fair share of life’s transitions.

I would even venture to put it in print that our generation has seen more changes (and in the shortest time span) than any other generation has.

And we are nowhere near finished.

Take music, for example. We played our parent’s records. Some of us even had a few of our own before switching to tapes. Then CDs. Then downloads or an iPod. Now Spotify playlists. And apparently, back to records again!

And I’m not even going into changes in social life and culture… today.

But while we’ve navigated all these changes, many of us are now hitting another significant shift: midlife. Have you bought a Porsche yet? In this economy? Yeah, me neither. I did buy a Harley a few years back, which some of my friends were prompt to attribute to a mid-life crisis.

Whatever.  

I can admit that buying that bike has been a dream come true. I’ve loved working on it and completing every single modification I’ve done to it.

But that was not my midlife crisis purchase.

For some, midlife is a time of reflection. We find ourselves contemplating a little more about what we’ve accomplished, where we’re heading, and how we’re handling the challenges we still face. And it’s not just about careers or personal achievements.

There’s a deeper longing for meaning and peace. We may be looking into a better balance between work, family, and personal aspirations.

That space of contemplation is where I am today.  

And if I’m here, there’s a good chance many others from my generation are, too. If you feel like you’re not, from the bottom of my heart, I’m genuinely glad for you. But that doesn’t mean that someday down the line, you won’t pause, take a deep breath, and look back to evaluate what you’ve done and how you’ve gotten to where you are.

Enter Zen

Please don’t laugh, but I’m pretty positive that I first got into Zen Philosophy via Zen Buddhism, thanks to MySpace.

I said, “Don’t laugh.”

You may or may not know that MySpace had a vibrant blogging community that allowed for generous discourse about a number of different topics. Something about Zen Philosophy resonated deeply with me; I have been a student ever since.  

The beauty of Zen philosophy lies in its simplicity, its ability to strip away the noise and help us focus on the present moment.

I will not guilt-trip anyone, but if you find yourself going for your phone every moment there is a pause, Zen Philosophy may help you engage better with your life and the people around you.

Blending Zen with modern life is not about retreating to a monastery or meditating for hours on end. It’s about incorporating small yet powerful practices into your daily routine to help you navigate this phase with calm and clarity.

I would love to share with you some of the ideas behind this and the practices that can help you with everyday things.

Have you ever misplaced your keys? Zen.

Go into a room and forget what you were going to get or do? Zen.

Are you stressing out about a deadline? Zen.

Getting into arguments with loved ones? Zen.

Are you trying to be more present for your family? Zen.  

There are many misconceptions about what living a mindful life is. Sometimes, it feels like an almost impossible goal to achieve, especially when we feel like we are nowhere near that state of mind.

But you are. More than you might initially think.

Midlife is not a crisis; it’s an opportunity for growth. So, the goal for this section is to recognize ourselves and find ways to connect better with who we are, who we want to be, and who we wish to become.

So, let’s give ourselves a collective break.

And take a deep breath.

And again.

And again.

Do this for 5 minutes, and I’m positive you will feel a little bit better.