Understanding Key Changes in Life

Tape 18

The joy and energy of your life will drain through the gap between what you expect to happen and the reality of what you experience. You will understand that statement and prevent energy losses by building a hedge against the dreaded "mid-life" crises. In the process, you'll also discover how to cushion yourself from the normal, hurtful actions of others whom you had "expected" better treatment from, but who, in reality, failed to measure up. Through the years, we discovered something that acts like a "thick pair of hip boots," that can protect us from the poisonous bite of life crises. The key lies in balancing life's expectations and reality.

Here it is in a checklist:

1. When you view your life in 10-year stages, don't panic in the moment of crisis.
2. When you use a reality check on unrealistic expectations, you avoid disappointments later.
3. When you keep the various parts of your identity in balance, you identity as a husband or wife, as a friend, a worker, a parent and as a spiritual person--you keep from losing too much energy in life's crises.

In this tape there are some steps to help keep your energy high and decrease your potential for discouragement and depression.