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Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

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51–60 of 452 posts

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#51
I spent too many years ruthlessly perusing my career and passion for coding. Sure, I have a bunch of a money and my dream job but now what? I spent the last 8 years with a girl that I was certain I was going to marry. She cheated on me last month and I hit rock bottom. I didn't want to code anymore, I didn't even want to play games or get out of bed. I started working out, eating healthy, and improving myself however I could. I'm still not happy but I feel more alive than I have in years. I take chances, try to meet new people, say yes to things. Try taking a step back from your work and make yourself uncomfortable. Go try new things, meet new people, and put yourself into those weird and awkward positions. Your zenith doesn't stop at your career and wealth. Travel, try new hobbies, buy a fast car, start a project. Life has ups and downs. Stay strong bro.

EDIT: Ketamine might be totally fine... I just have negative feelings about it.

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#52
Hello. I, like you, had an early, promising start in my teens. I've found it helpful exploring my thinking back then. Have you read about Internal Family Systems or EMDR?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Family_Systems_Model

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_movement_desensitization_a...

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#54
I recommend you go through an exercise I learned a few years back in college[3]. Get into a quiet, comfortable, but alert state (meditation or a cup of coffee often works) . Somewhere you can be undisturbed for 30-60 minutes. Get yourself a few sheets of paper and a pen you like. It's advised you actually hand write this. Maybe turn on some quiet contemplative music -- movie scores often work[1].

Set a timer for 30-60 minutes and begin to write down every conceivable thing you might want to do, anything that seems cool, honorable, worthwhile, interesting, amazing, serene, invigorating, beautiful, or otherwise just iconic/archetypal of your interpretation of what a great life might include/entail. The only rules are you must not limit yourself by thinking it cannot be accomplished, is out of reach, or other "pragmatic" style self limitations, and you must not list things you think you ought/should do where those things are coming from a place that doesn't seem truly genuine to who you are -- they are externally informed. Try to shoot for 100 things.

Ok, got your list?

Now you're going to refactor it into categories. Categorize it into any pattern set you observe. I wont mention any here as it will bias your own groupings. But I really do believe patterns _will_ emerge if you look at it long enough. Try to distill themes of values and what is important to you, excites you, has meaning/purpose to you.

After many days you may want to start to think and begin to pursue these things either concretely (a specific item on your list) or thematically (find ways to incorporate meaning to what you're already doing). Books about habits[2], goals can help with bringing them into fruition. This exercise can be used to help you map out things that matter, reflect on things you have done that you previously said would matter (gratitude), and later on redone to help evolve as you grow.

If I find that you're stalling/procrastinating in overwhelm or negativity I often apply my "Next pizza" rule (I love pizza). I think about what might represent the next pizza in my life (sometimes literally, usually figuratively) and focus on getting there. Focus on doing the best monday through friday on the things that matter I can so I can get to that next pizza (reward).

[1]: Perhaps the fountain, interstellar, or pan's labyrinth.

[2]: such as atomic habits or tiny habits

[3]: this exercise is similar to, but smaller than, the future authoring program https://www.selfauthoring.com/future-authoring

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#55
Actually, that is typical. Most people don't go out and buy muscle cars. They suffer quietly.

That being said, welcome to mid life where you realize nothing matters and the points are meaningless. Have to figure the meaning out for yourself. There's no way around it. Best of luck.

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#56
post #12

If it helps at all, my 40s were my favorite decade so far. You sound like a person who really has a tremendous amount to offer. You just need to figure out what you want to do and what gives you joy. I am not a magical genius who can figure that out for you, but since you can definitely afford it, I'd agree with the folks who are suggesting a vacation or some kind of volunteer work. You mention how much of your life…

40s were the worst for me. Marriage fell apart when I was 39, and my 40s are sort of a blur of just getting from one day to the next.

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#57

Drop the therapy and start lifting weights. I'm not kidding. If the problem is that you feel things are gonna be a slow decline from here, then fight it . Make that your new goal, even if you know it to be a losing battle. It will focus your mind on demonstrable milestones like hitting new deadlift personal best. Even if you do something else, at the very least recognize that you've gotten to the point where you don'…

terrible advice, never tell someone who has depression or any other mental health issue to stop going to therapy.

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#58

Drop the therapy and start lifting weights. I'm not kidding. If the problem is that you feel things are gonna be a slow decline from here, then fight it . Make that your new goal, even if you know it to be a losing battle. It will focus your mind on demonstrable milestones like hitting new deadlift personal best. Even if you do something else, at the very least recognize that you've gotten to the point where you don'…

[deleted]

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#59
> I feel like I've hit my zenith already and it's just a slow decline from here on out. I’ve been dreading this day because it’s a sad reminder of that.

Sounds like you need to take some serious time to consider who you are. Not the person who accomplished these things in life, but the reason you were given a body and put on this planet to do something.

I had a similar moment after I read "Man's search for meaning" by Frankl. That led me down a 5 year journey to better understand what life is all about. I explored many philosophies, practices, and texts to get closer to an answer. I found my "Ikigai" along the way as well through writing.

Nobody knows what they're doing in life, but I do believe I have a much better understanding of what I'm doing in life because I put the time in to better figure out who I am.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai

Re: Tell HN: Turned 44 today and I'm lost

#60

Drop the therapy and start lifting weights. I'm not kidding. If the problem is that you feel things are gonna be a slow decline from here, then fight it . Make that your new goal, even if you know it to be a losing battle. It will focus your mind on demonstrable milestones like hitting new deadlift personal best. Even if you do something else, at the very least recognize that you've gotten to the point where you don'…

Absolutely never under any circumstances attempt to take people away from their safety net, therapist or otherwise.

You have no understanding of their wider life and concerns, and people asking for big life change help can be surprisingly susceptible to advice.

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