Journey Beyond Conventional Success: Embracing the Second Half of Life with "Planning My Life"

In a world engrossed with societal norms of success, there’s a profound insight we often overlook. The renowned thinker Richard Rohr, building on Carl Jung’s theory, eloquently describes the two halves of life. In the initial phase, we're focused on constructing our ego, seeking validations through materialistic achievements, be it wealth, fame, or societal acceptance. It's a time when climbing the ladder of what we're told is 'success' seems paramount. However, there’s a transformative second phase, a journey beyond the superficial, where the soul seeks true meaning and fulfilment.

Yet, the conundrum is evident. Our society is teeming with elderly individuals, but how many can we truly call 'elders'? Many remain tethered to the pursuits of the first half, perpetually craving more of what rarely satiates the soul. As Rohr puts it, "If your success was really satisfying your soul, you wouldn't need more of it all the time."

“The first one (first half) you're building your ego structure where you're building your sense of self. You've got to have a few successes; you can't just be defeated, especially in your early pre-teen years and teen years.

But if you spend too much time creating your ego structure, you think that's the only task there is. This is our mania for being rich, for being famous, for living in the right part of town, for driving a big car, for having a trophy wife, that's all that's all first half of life stuff. It’s not wrong but it's not wisdom either, and it's not going to work to finally satisfy the soul or your need for meaning.

‍We're a society with a lot of elderly people but not a lot of elders because we have elderly people who are still living in the first half of life, still seeking ego affirmation, more money, more classy cars. And I'm not trying to be moralistic, I'm just talking in terms of the Soul. The definition of being an addict is when you want more and more of what isn't working. If your success was really satisfying your soul, you wouldn't need more of it all the time. You wouldn't need more climbing. That's the point of the spiritual journey: The Iliad, the Odyssey, Gandhi, Jesus, they always leave home. You've got to leave your normal definition of success given to you by your family.”

Richard Rohr, describing one of his favorite ideas, Carl Jung’s two halves of life.

Key Points from the Quote by Richard Rohr:

1. Early life primarily revolves around building one's ego and sense of self through successes.

2. Overemphasis on ego-building tasks, such as seeking wealth and fame, can prevent growth and self-fulfilment in the latter half of life.

3. Society has many elderly individuals but lacks true elders due to a persistent fixation on ego-centric achievements.

4. Being an addict is wanting more of what doesn't truly satisfy the soul.

5. True spiritual journeys, as portrayed by various figures like Jesus and Gandhi, involve leaving behind the conventional definitions of success and embarking on a deeper quest.

Relevance to "Planning My Life":

• Richard Rohr's emphasis on the importance of self-awareness, growth, and seeking meaning beyond materialistic pursuits aligns with "Planning My Life" (PML)'s core mission. PML aims to empower individuals to gain control over their financial futures and personal growth, promoting holistic well-being.

• PML's focus on providing genuine value, without gimmicks, and its commitment to creating fulfilling lives for its members resonate with Rohr's assertion that true satisfaction comes from meaningful, soul-enriching pursuits rather than relentless ego-centric achievements.

• PML's vision of contributing to ending global poverty and its broader humanitarian goals demonstrate its commitment to a deeper, more purposeful journey, similar to the spiritual journey described by Rohr.

• The emphasis on decentralisation and breaking institutional control in PML's ethos echoes Rohr's critique of societal norms that overly value materialistic success.

• The values guiding PML – empowerment, integrity, innovation, community, personal growth, and decentralisation – dovetail with Rohr's perspective on seeking soulful fulfilment and meaning in life.

Key Points about "Planning My Life":

1. Founded by Steve Conley, "Planning My Life" is a service launched in August 2023.

2. It offers an AI Life Planner to guide users in creating personalised life plans.

3. Core mission: democratise financial planning and personal growth with a focus on decentralisation.

4. Subscription costs £19 per month, providing access to planning resources, expert email support, and a community.

5. Values: empowerment, integrity, innovation, community, personal growth, and decentralisation.

6. The service aligns with broader humanitarian goals, including contributing to ending world poverty.

7. PML is positioned as more than a business – it's a movement and philosophy committed to transforming lives.

It's evident that "Planning My Life" stands at the intersection of personal growth and financial empowerment, which aligns well with Richard Rohr's observations. By championing a holistic approach to life planning, PML addresses the deeper quests for meaning and fulfilment beyond mere materialistic success. This visionary perspective could resonate profoundly with individuals seeking a more purposeful life trajectory.

For more information read: Can money serve our transition from ego to soul?