“What is a normal goal to a young person becomes a neurotic hindrance in old age.”
—Carl Gustav Jung, 20th Century founder of analytical psychology
Image from Unsplash by Estée Janssens
Today’s quote underscores the necessity of adapting goals to life’s stages.
External success in youth often becomes a barrier to inner fulfillment as we age.
Jung emphasizes that older adults should:
- Embrace inner work: focus on self-reflection, reconciling opposites, and accepting mortality.
- Releasing ego-centrist goals: shed rigid roles and societal expectations to foster authenticity and connection to the collective unconscious.
- Accepting the “Afternoon of Life” view of aging as a time for harvest and find meaning in introspection rather than external achievements.
EXERCISE:
In what ways are you still clinging to certain goals of your youth?
How would greater acceptance of the passage of time — and your current stage of life — guide you on a better path with greater purpose and fulfillment?
