Four Stages of Life
Recently I saw through my den window a cloud split into several evenly spaced flat layers with each layer decreasing in length as if it were forming a stairway up into the heavens, and I couldn’t help thinking of it as a metaphor for our journey through life. I pictured all of us climbing, each at a different level, reaching for help from those at the higher levels and lending our hands to those at the beginning levels.
Carl Jung describes the four stages of life as thus: The Athletic Stage. Here we are preoccupied with our looks. In The Warrior Stage we are out to conquer the world, to be the best. The Statement Stage is where we look for ways to serve others and to make a difference, and finally The Stage of the Spirit, the letting go stage.
Descriptions of these stages may be found online. Just Google “Carl Jung Stages of Life,” and click on “Carl G. Jung Archetypes, The 4 Stages of Life.”
At what stage of life do we find ourselves, and how does each stage equip us for our ongoing journey? Something to think about and pray about.
gracedeacon@gwi.net
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less