Mindsets to live a fulfilling life
Time is precious, a widely known expression we often hear, especially after the death of a loved one. We lament not having more of it. Fortunately, Andrew J. Scott and Lynda Gratton’s premise in their book, The 100-Year Life, is more time because now we live longer lives. Scott and Gratton write, “The gift of a longer life is ultimately the gift of time. In this long sweep of time, there is a chance to craft a purposeful and meaningful life.” [1] More time is a gift, but it can become a curse for those unprepared. Scott and Gratton argue that rather than the constraints of the dominant, linear three-stage life model (e.g., full-time education, work, and retirement), there is a necessity for “the multi-stage life, with a variety of careers, with breaks and transitions.” [2] Ultimately, the shift to a multi-stage life demands a change in perspective on how we treat our time and tangible and intangible assets. This post will present two essential mindsets for Christians to live a fulfilling multi-stage life. This includes mindsets that are discovery-oriented and God-focused.
The multi-stage life necessitates an active, discovery-oriented mindset. In Ecclesiastes 7:25, the Teacher writes, “I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things.” This passage, attributed to King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, underscores the intentional nature of his search. It was not a passive endeavor but a deliberate turning of the heart to explore and seek. Scott and Gratton echo this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of becoming an explorer. They write, “Explorers are actively investigating the world around them, discovering what is out there, how it works, what they like and what they are good at.” [3] Of course, with discovery, there is the reality of the unknown, the liminal. There is an uncomfortable disorientation before reaching the other side. Furthermore, the discovery-oriented mindset understands the importance of taking risks. The authors write, “Taking charge of your life involves risk because it means confronting a diversity of open possibilities.” [4] Scott and Gratton present the multi-stage life as open to more diversity than the three-stage life, and a discovery-oriented mindset is required to seek out the possibilities.
In addition to a discovery-oriented mindset, the multi-stage life requires a God-focused perspective. In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher turned his heart to search for wisdom and the scheme of things. However, he concludes, “All is vanity!” The Teacher writes in Eccles. 12:13, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Scott and Gratton’s 100-Year Life provides invaluable insight into intentionally living a longer life and filling the gift of extra time with purpose. However, as a follower of Jesus, I understand a long and purposeful life comes from more than a perspective shift and careful forecasting. Everything will be nothing but vanity if my faith is not the foundation and purpose of how I direct my life. The God-focused mindset reassures and guides me when stepping into the unknown. Jesus said to his disciples in Matt. 6:28-32,
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Maintaining a God-focused mindset gives us the courage to approach life’s transitions confidently because we know the One who is Sovereign over all time. He gifts us time and provides all that we need.
The 100-Year Life is an appeal to prepare for a longer life. Humans naturally long for more time, but when ill-prepared, this can feel like a curse rather than a gift. Scott and Gratton write, “This is what The 100-Year Life is about: crafting a longevity agenda to help all of us live long, healthy and fulfilling lives.” [5] The authors propose a multi-stage life rather than the dominant, three-stage life model. This post presented two essential mindsets for Christians to live a fulfilling multi-stage life. This includes a mindset that is discovery-oriented and God-focused. Examples from Ecclesiastes display an active, intentional, discovery-oriented mindset. However, the Teacher concludes that after all his seeking, all is vanity. Although it is wise to intentionally prepare for a longer life that is purposeful and meaningful, it will all come to naught without a God-focused mindset. For Christians, a God-focused mindset journeys in trust with the One who holds everything together and gifts time. We can confidently explore and discover life’s possibilities because we know the One who provides everything we need.
[1] Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott, The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity, E-book (London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2020), 127.
[2] Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life, 3.
[3] Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life, 134.
[4] Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life, 96.
[5] Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life, Introduction.
About the Author
Elysse Burns
16 responses to “Mindsets to live a fulfilling life”
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Nicely done to tie in Eccles. 7, and a pursuit of wisdom to Gratton and Scott’s perspective shift. But thanks for going beyond their advice in discovery-orientation to your second point about prioritizing God’s Kingdom, and being looked after. In what way is this merely a counter-cultural testimony serving God, not ‘mammon’, or are there links at all to your God-focussed perspective you see in Gratton and Scott’s work?
Hi Joel, thank you for your comment. I believe there are links between maintaining a God-focused perspective and Scott and Gratton’s ideas. I like to think of it as stewardship of what God gave me rather than making an idol out of what I have (e.g., finances, health, time, etc.). However, I do have to keep myself in check!
Elysse,
I also was brought to Ecclesiastes in this book. Immediately as I was reading it I I was thinking about the vanity of vanities. In what ways over the last few years have you kept a discovery-oriented and God focused mindset? Do you have an example?
Hi Adam, thank you for your comment. I have found that the more I learn about myself and push myself out of my comfort zone, the easier it becomes to be discovery-oriented. This doctoral program would be a good example. It has allowed me to discover more about the complexities of my host country and has shown me the need to depend on God for courage and wisdom. I have enjoyed the program’s motto of “trusting the process.” I have felt this gives me the freedom to explore and discover without the pressure of having all the answers.
Elysse,
As I think about a book I read, Living Vocationally: The Journey of the Called Life and also the book we read last fall, Discernment by Henri Nouwen I wonder what living a multi-stage life might mean for international and national missions work. Do you think that people might be more willing to take time away from the traditional workforce or post-secondary education to pursue mission opportunities, especially at a younger age, knowing that they have a good chance of being able to work or go to school later in life to answer other calls?
Hi Jeff, thank you for your comment. I hope that the multi-stage life model will encourage people to be open to working overseas at any age. I do believe this can look different for everyone. I know many sending agencies provide opportunities from 3-week to 4-year to indefinite stays. I know a couple who returned to overseas work after being “off the field” for twelve years. I also believe the experience at a younger age is beneficial too. Over the summer, we hosted 2 interns in their mid-twenties. One thrived, and the other discovered this was not the right fit. But yes, the multi-stage life could positively impact younger individuals considering overseas work.
Hi friend, in the context of your ministry work and career, what do the messages of this book mean to you when you are living and operating in a resource-thin environment? Given the circumstances, how might you invite others to lean in for longevity?
Hi Jennifer, thank you for your comment. The book gives me hope for those in resource-thin environments. Something I appreciated about Scott and Gratton is how they emphasized that the book is not prescriptive. At this point, I know my context differs vastly from Scott and Gratton’s. We are behind. However, I want to display their hopefulness that a purposeful and full life is possible. I want to share this message with my host country. I want them to know that time well-spent matters.
Hi, Elysse, I enjoyed reading your post; it is very interesting and informative. You touched the longevity and purpose of life and the advice from the writings of Mr. Jesse. That everything under the sun is emptiness, and the lilies of the valley that don’t care about anything (I mean like doing any work or even attempting to) but were cared for. Your audience (I mean those in field of ministry) is similar to mine, should we encourage them to prepare for the future? and what if we do and the answer from them is, “look at the lilies of the valley, or look at the birds of the air? They are doing nothing, but our God is taking care of them. This is what I think of for my people. They said those are westerners state of mind. Sorry, I get carried away, thank you for the post.
Hi Noel, thank you for your comment. I believe we should encourage people to consider the future. However, I think this will look different for everyone. I don’t believe there is a blueprint. I also think it is essential for Christians to consider how we are stewarding our time, finances, health, etc. My biggest takeaway from the book is that with more time, it is critical to live intentionally and with purpose. I do think this will look different for different cultures.
Elysse! Thanks for the drawing back to the book of Ecclesiastes that was rich. How do aim to have a God focus mindset in this multi stage life that we are in?
Hi Daren, the word stewardship keeps coming to mind. I want to make sure I approach life with intentionality and purpose and remember that God gifts each day. Regardless of the stage, I want to do my best to not waste the time He has given me. Having a God-focused mindset also means remembering that everything comes from Him, and I have a responsibility to steward what He provides.
Hi Elysse, have you thought much about how the multi-stage life might apply to you? Do you see yourself in your current line of work for many decades to come, or do you see any transitions in the next decade of two?
Hi Christy, thank you for your comment. I try my best to approach this life open-handed because it could change at any moment. Something I love about this life is the freedom to try new things and be creative in managing time and engaging with people. Like many of our readings, the term multi-stage life gave me a new vocabulary for the direction my life has been going for some time. I do foresee myself overseas for years to come. However, the work and location might change. Again, I hold it with open hands.
Elysse, Thanks for such a great post. I am curious in what ways you see yourself as an ‘explorer’ – perhaps in the context of your current situation? How do you imagine an explorer mindset contributing to a more satisfying long life?
Hi Julie, thank you for your kind comment. I have lived in Mauritania for almost four years. I am still a “newbie.” Most of my exploration has involved learning the culture and doing my best to understand the nuances of the country. I want to know what my host country values and reconcile it with things important to me. So, I suppose I am doing a lot of external exploration of the culture surrounding me and a lot of internal exploration. Sometimes it feels like a big excavation project. I want to find what is buried. Overall, having an explorer mindset has given me a broader worldview and has fostered more understanding, empathy, and compassion. I know we all process things differently, but my life has felt more satisfying and purposeful just having relationships with people from such different backgrounds. It has also given me the courage to keep exploring!