One of my recent blog posts about the soul went crazy viral which meant I had a lot of deep, soulful people reaching out to me including Geoffrey Fenton who reminded me of this quote.
Most of us spend our early decades trying to shape and perfect our external life: our bodies, resumes, homes, reputations. But if we are souls first and foremost, what does that mean for how we live?
It means aging isn’t a diminishment. It’s a remembering.
It means the wrinkles and grey aren’t signs of decline — they’re the markings of a soul breaking through the surface.
It means that when the body becomes less reliable, the soul can become more radiant — more honest, wise, and awake.
At MEA, we often talk about moving from role to soul (thanks to Connie Zweig for that language). It’s not a clever phrase. It’s an invitation. To stop leading with what you do and start leading with who you are.
The body is a beautiful vehicle. But it’s the driver — the soul — that gives the journey its meaning.
So the next time you’re tempted to believe you’re losing something as you age, remember:
You’re not becoming less of yourself.
You’re becoming more of your soul.
-Chip
P.S. My most recent MIDLIFE CHRYSALIS podcast episode with Scott Eastwood is now live as we talk about the roles our fathers have had in our lives.