{"id":38799,"date":"2024-10-11T02:23:11","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T09:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=38799"},"modified":"2024-10-14T11:01:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T18:01:26","slug":"mindsets-to-live-a-fulfilling-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/mindsets-to-live-a-fulfilling-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Mindsets to live a fulfilling life"},"content":{"rendered":"

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, <\/em>is more time because now we live longer lives. Scott and Gratton write, \u201cThe 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.\u201d [1]<\/a> 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 \u201cthe multi-stage life, with a variety of careers, with breaks and transitions.\u201d [2]<\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The multi-stage life necessitates an active, discovery-oriented mindset. In Ecclesiastes 7:25, the Teacher<\/em> writes, \u201cI turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things.\u201d 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, \u201cExplorers are actively investigating the world around them, discovering what is out there, how it works, what they like and what they are good at.\u201d [3]<\/a> 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, \u201cTaking charge of your life involves risk because it means confronting a diversity of open possibilities.\u201d [4]<\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to a discovery-oriented mindset, the multi-stage life requires a God-focused perspective. In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher<\/em> turned his heart to search for wisdom and the scheme of things. However, he concludes, \u201cAll is vanity!\u201d The Teacher<\/em> writes in Eccles. 12:13, \u201cThe end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.\u201d Scott and Gratton\u2019s 100-Year Life<\/em> 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<\/em> 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, <\/span><\/p>\n

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, \u2018What shall we eat?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we drink?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we wear?\u2019 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 100-Year Life <\/em>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, \u201cThis is what The 100-Year Life<\/em> is about: crafting a longevity agenda to help all of us live long, healthy and fulfilling lives.\u201d [5]<\/a> 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 T<\/em>eacher<\/em> concludes that after all his seeking,<\/span>\u00a0all 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\u2019s possibilities because we know the One who provides everything we need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a> Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott, The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity<\/em>, E-book (London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2020), 127.<\/span><\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life<\/em>, 3.<\/span><\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life<\/em>, 134.<\/span><\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life<\/em>, 96.<\/span><\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life, <\/em>Introduction.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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, \u201cThe gift of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3298],"class_list":["post-38799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-gratton-dlgp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38799"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38849,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38799\/revisions\/38849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}