Welcome to your ✨Monday Moment✨
Take a deep breath in. Hold it. Exhale.
Pick a colour 🔴 🟠 🟡 🟢 🔵 🟣
Find the moment below with that same colour, then go to the closing moment at the end.
🔴 Take a moment to learn about the origin of the word stage. First used in the 13th century to mean a floor or storey of a building, it later came to describe a raised platform for public events and theatrical performances. Around the same time, it was also used for stopping places on long journeys. Over the centuries, stage gained additional meanings, including a distinct phase in a process or period of life. Today, the word still carries all of these meanings, from theatre stages to stages of a journey and stages of life.
🟠 Take a moment to recall the last time you saw a performance on stage. What sounds come to mind when you think about it? Who stood out the most on stage?
🟡 Take a moment to ponder this quote by writer Sasha Martin: “You need a name for every stage of your life. Butterflies don’t go by ‘caterpillar’ forever.” Where does this take your thoughts?
🟢 Take a moment to look around you and find three things that are at different stages. Something just beginning. Something in the middle. Something nearing completion.
🔵 Take a moment to consider what brings happiness at different stages of life. Stanford social psychologist Jennifer Aaker’s work suggests that what we seek and value can shift as we age. Her interpretation looks something like this:
- 0–20s: Discovery
- Mid-20s to Mid-30s: Achievement
- Mid-30s to Mid-40s: Balance
- Mid-40s to 50s/60s: Meaning
- 60s+: Savouring
Do you think she’s right? Has your own journey followed a different path? No one says these stages are fixed. We can rediscover, achieve, seek balance, find meaning, and savour life at any stage.
🟣 Take a moment to do a little visualisation exercise. Imagine yourself sitting in a theatre. The stage is dark. Slowly, the lights begin to rise. Standing centre stage is someone familiar. It is you. The audience begins to heartily applaud. You turn to the person beside you and quietly ask, “Why is everyone clapping?” What do they say? Take a moment to listen to their answer. Then ask another person nearby. And another. When you’re ready, look back towards yourself on the stage. Notice the smile on your face. Take yourself back to this stage moment any time you need a boost.
A closing moment to take another deep breath together. Hold it, feel it, and gently exhale. Life is unquestionably lived in stages. Some we stand on. Some we pass through. The stages we stand on ask us to play our part. The stages we pass through help shape who we become. Some are obvious. Others only reveal their significance when we look back. Whatever stage you find yourself in today, it is not the whole story. It is simply the stage you are in right now, so enjoy it for all that it brings.
This week’s Monday Moment is dedicated to the performers, dancers, and singers out there. Thank you for sharing your talents and for reminding us all of the power of stepping onto a stage.
Your thoughts and comments are always welcome; this is a safe space. If this helped you today, consider passing it along to a friend who might need it too.
Do you work for a business that would like to bring more wellbeing into your team culture? Or are you part of a publication that could benefit from a wellbeing column? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch to explore how we could work together.
Disclaimer
This post is created for entertainment, happy vibes and informative purposes. It is not to be perceived as professional advice regarding health or finances, or any other field. I am also human and may have the odd misspelling, grammatical error and/or repeats. I will always try my best, but will never promise perfection.
These emails are free to everyone, but if you’d ever like to support the site and help with site running costs, you can do so using the QR code below. Thank you ✨
Leave a Reply