Life Stages – Life Stages in Six-Year Blobs

Navigating Life’s Transitions: From One Chapter to the Next

November 5, 2024blobsofsix

Life is a series of transitions. Some are eagerly anticipated, like graduating from college or getting that first job, while others, like dealing with the empty nest or approaching retirement, might feel less welcome. What’s universal, though, is that each shift brings a mix of excitement, fear, and a chance for growth. Let’s dive into key life transitions and how to embrace these changes.

1. From Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Finding Your Way

One of the most pivotal shifts in life is moving from adolescence into young adulthood. You leave behind the relative security of living under your parents’ roof and step into a world full of new responsibilities, choices, and pressures. It’s a time to shape your identity, make career choices, and build relationships.

How to Navigate It:

• Embrace Uncertainty: It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Experiment with different jobs, hobbies, or paths. Each experience teaches you something.

• Build a Support System: As you start living independently, surround yourself with people who uplift you—friends, mentors, and family.

• Focus on Self-Discovery: Spend time understanding what drives you. Journaling, traveling, or volunteering can provide valuable insights.

2. Entering Parenthood: A New World of Responsibility

Becoming a parent marks a monumental change, as life shifts from focusing on yourself to caring for another human being. You’ll likely face sleepless nights, new worries, and endless diaper changes, but also moments of pure love and pride.

Tips for This Stage:

• Accept Help: Parenting is tough, and you don’t need to go it alone. Family, friends, and community groups can make a world of difference.

• Communicate with Your Partner: If you’re co-parenting, ensure you’re both on the same page. Discuss expectations and share responsibilities.

• Make Time for Yourself: Your needs matter too. A little self-care, even if it’s just a 10-minute break, can make you a better, more present parent.

3. Navigating the Empty Nest: Redefining Your Role

Once the kids leave home, you may find yourself in an empty house, grappling with a new sense of identity. It’s normal to feel a mix of freedom and loss. But this stage is also an opportunity to rediscover old passions or pursue new ones.

Strategies to Cope:

• Reconnect with Your Partner or Yourself: If you’re married, it’s a great time to rekindle your relationship. If not, use this stage to focus on your personal goals and dreams.

• Stay Connected: Even though your kids have flown the nest, maintain a close relationship through regular calls or visits.

• Pursue New Interests: Take up a hobby, volunteer, or consider traveling. It’s your time to explore.

4. Approaching Retirement: Redefining Your Purpose

Retirement is more than just leaving the workforce; it’s about finding new meaning and staying active. While some people jump into this phase with excitement, others may struggle to redefine their purpose.

How to Find Fulfillment:

• Plan Ahead: Think about what retirement means to you. Do you want to volunteer, travel, or start a small business?

• Stay Physically Active: Exercise keeps your body and mind sharp. Consider joining a walking club or picking up a sport.

• Foster Social Connections: Loneliness can be a challenge in retirement, so make an effort to stay engaged with friends or join community groups.

Embracing Life’s Changes

Transitions can be scary, but they’re also opportunities to grow, learn, and reinvent yourself. The key is to approach each stage with an open mind and a willingness to adapt. Remember, it’s okay to feel uncertain or sad about leaving one phase behind. What matters is how you choose to move forward.

What transition are you currently navigating, or which one was the hardest for you? Share your experiences in the comments and let’s support each other through life’s ever-changing journey!

Navigating Emerging Adulthood: From College to Career

October 27, 2024October 27, 2024blobsofsix

Emerging adulthood, a term popularized by psychologist Jeffrey Arnett, describes the phase from the late teens to mid-20s when young adults are figuring out how to transition from college to a career. This period, filled with exploration and change, can also bring uncertainty, financial challenges, and adaptation to a rapidly evolving job market.

From College Comfort to Career Reality

Transitioning from college to the workplace is a major shift. For many, it means moving from a structured environment to a world where there are no clear guidelines or next steps. Many college graduates feel “lost” when trying to navigate their career paths immediately after school.

Tip: Be patient with yourself. The first job might not be your dream job, but it’s a stepping stone. Start with opportunities that align with your skills and interests, and use them to build experience and make connections.

Financial Independence: A Growing Challenge

Financial independence is a common goal for emerging adults, but it’s often harder to achieve than expected. Often fresh graduates felt that student loans and rising living costs were significant barriers to achieving financial stability. Many turn to part-time work or freelance jobs to make ends meet.

Tip: Create a budget. Track your expenses to see where you can save. Consider setting up an emergency fund, even if it’s small, to handle unexpected expenses. Websites like YNAB (You Need A Budget) can be helpful for beginners.

Modern Job Market Shifts: The Role of AI and Technology

Today’s emerging adults face unique challenges compared to previous generations. AI and automation are reshaping industries, affecting job availability and skill demands. For instance, a study by the World Economic Forum predicts that 85 million jobs may be displaced by 2025 due to AI, while 97 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted to the digital economy.

Tip: Stay informed and keep learning. Consider taking online courses in areas like digital marketing, coding, or data analysis. Platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer affordable courses that can help boost your employability.

Building a Support Network

Having a support network can make the transition from college to career smoother. Mentors, friends, and colleagues can provide valuable insights and open doors to opportunities. Networking isn’t just about career events; it can also mean reaching out to alumni or participating in industry webinars.

Tip: Seek out networking events. Check out websites like Eventbrite for local career fairs or networking events tailored to recent graduates. Online platforms such as Meetup and LinkedIn also have groups where you can connect with professionals in your field. Universities often have alumni networks that can be a great resource, too.

Actionable Steps to Tackle the Transition

Define Your Goals: Take some time to figure out what you want from your career. What industries or roles excite you? Write down your short-term and long-term goals.
Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile: Keep your CV updated and tailor it for specific job applications. Make sure your LinkedIn is polished, as many employers will check it.
Learn In-Demand Skills: Identify skills that are popular in your field and find ways to learn or improve them. Consider online courses, workshops, or even volunteer projects.
Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help: Whether it’s career counseling at your university, advice from a mentor, or even reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn, seeking guidance can make a big difference.
Practice Self-Care: The transition can be stressful, so remember to take breaks, exercise, and engage in activities that help you relax.

Final Thoughts

Emerging adulthood is a time of change, growth, and uncertainty. The transition from college to a career might be challenging, but it’s also a period filled with opportunities. By staying adaptable, continuously learning, and building a strong network, you can navigate this stage with confidence.

What has been your biggest challenge in moving from college to career? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Time to leave behind the 7-year life-cycles?

November 5, 2016October 27, 2024blobsofsix

You’ve probably heard of the “7-year itch.” Maybe you’re also familiar with the idea that our body renews all its cells every 7 years, the 7-year Chakras from Vedic India, the ancient Greek life cycles, or the Waldorf theories from Rudolf Steiner, the anthroposophist. Perhaps you’re wondering, “Is there any truth behind these 7-year cycles?” or “Do they still apply to our lives today?”

Read on to see why these traditional cycles might be outdated and how Blobs of 6-year stages, bundled into the seasons of Spring (growing), Summer (maturing), Autumn (harvesting), and Winter (releasing), better mirror our lives in today’s world.

Does Our Body Renew Itself Every 7 Years?

Let’s start by dispelling this myth: the belief that the body and mind renew themselves every 7 years is simply not true. Sure, our cells are constantly renewing, but at different rates. According to The New York Public Library’s Science Desk Reference (Stonesong Press, 1995), red blood cells replace themselves every four months; white blood cells renew every 2-3 weeks. Colon cells live only 4 days, and sperm cells just 3! Skin cells last 2-3 weeks, while brain cells remain for life—neurons don’t regenerate. While we do undergo many changes over 7 years, similar shifts can happen over 5 years, 10 years, or even just 2 years. Scientifically, there’s no basis for the “7-year renewal” belief.

Is the 7-Year Itch Real?

The idea of the “7-year itch” was popularized by the 1955 Marilyn Monroe movie of the same name, which suggested marriages start facing trouble around the 7-year mark. While it’s true that this period can be challenging, as couples often have less time for each other while raising young children, data shows that the 7-year mark is just an average.

Research by Dr. Larry A. Kurdek, a psychology professor from Wright State University, found that marital quality often declines after 4 years, with many divorces occurring around this time. A 2010 study by Grant Thornton revealed that most marriages fall apart around the 12-year mark, while another study in 2012 pointed to a dip around 3 years, citing that many couples now get together later in life without enough time to know each other before having children. So, once again, there’s no solid evidence for a recurring 7-year itch.

Are 7-Year Life Cycles Keeping Up with Our Changing Lifestyles?

Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy and the Waldorf school concept, described life stages in 7-year intervals back in 1924. Many modern 7-year cycle models are still based on his theories. However, human life has changed dramatically since then. Thanks to medical advances, people are living much longer, which has reshaped how we experience different stages of life.

Here’s how the 7-year life stages tend to miss important milestones that are more accurately captured by the 6-year Blobs:

The Spring Season (1-24 years) vs. Steiner’s Early Stages

Steiner’s 0-7 years vs. the 1st Blob (1-6 years): In most OECD countries, schooling starts at around age 6 (sometimes even 5), marking the end of the toddler years around that age.
Steiner’s 14-21 vs. the 3rd Blob (13-18 years): Today, puberty and teenage years are seen as the 13-18/19 age range, with most teens finishing high school around 18. With longer educational periods, the learning years extend well beyond age 21, often into the mid-20s. This is captured in the 4th Blob of Spring: The Emerging Adult (19-24 years).

The Summer Season (25-48 years) vs. Steiner’s “Sun” Stages

Steiner’s next three stages (21-28; 28-35; 35-42) reflect adult working years, where play turns into responsibility. But the Summer Season of the 6-year Blobs (25-48) spans a broader range, reflecting the shift in today’s productive working years.

Steiner’s 21-28 vs. the 4th and 5th Blobs (19-24 & 25-30 years): Steiner’s model misses the trend of Emerging Adulthood (19-24 years). In this age group, people no longer see themselves as adolescents, but many also don’t feel ready to fully embrace adult responsibilities like financial independence or long-term commitments. These are increasingly postponed, aligning with the 1st Blob of Summer: Young Adult (25-30 years).

Extending into the Autumn Season (49-72 years)

Steiner’s last stages (42-48; 48-56; 56-63) represent a time when, according to him, the soul achieves a higher sense of Self. However, with people now living into their 80s and 90s, the Autumn Season (49-72 years) of the 6-year Blobs portrays today’s middle-aged adults as healthy, productive, and independence-seeking, rather than soul-searching.

With traditional retirement ages shifting, some OECD countries are pushing the concept of active work life into the early 70s. As described in The 100-Year Life – Living and Working in an Age of Longevity, this shift reflects a financial need to extend careers to around 70. The 4th Blob of Autumn: The Independent Elder (67-72 years), contrasts with Steiner’s final stages that ended at an early age of 63, when Saturn completed its second return.

The 7 Cycles of the 7 Chakras

As explained illustratively in the article “The 7 cycles of the 7 chakra – The continuity of life” the Indian Vedic Chakra is based on the philosophy that:

…every seven years humans achieve various levels of understanding based upon what phase of spiritual development their endocrine/ chakra systems is in…Each of the chakras affect our life in various ways. Within each of these stages, the other chakras influence the progress of the individual’s self-realization process. There are in each cycle primary influential traits that direct these phases. Every seven years we repeat this cycle, while during that phase feeling the impact of the chakra that is maturing in that particular cycle.

The 7×7 matrix of Vedic Chakras ends at 49 years, a reflection of a time when life expectancy was around 50-60 years. But with people now living much longer, we have more time to achieve what was once compressed into a 49-year span. For example, the 3rd Chakra (15-21 years) traditionally involves seeking stable relationships, but today’s Emerging Adults (19-24 years) or even those in their late 20s are often not ready for such commitments. The 7th Chakra (43-49 years) represents spiritual maturity, but in modern life, this stage of soul-searching is often postponed to later years.

Time for a Change

I believe it’s time to redefine these age-old models and adapt them to today’s lifestyles. The 6-year Blobs capture the shifts and patterns in a way that feels more natural and aligned with how we live now. What do you think? I’d love to hear your views!

Read more about the 6 year Blobs:
Spring: 1-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24
Summer: 25-30, 31-36, 37-42, 43-48
Autumn: 49-54, 55-60, 61-66, 67-72
Winter: 73-78, 79-84, 85-91, 91-…