Second Half Thinking

A society that improves its citizen's lives is "progressive". America is proficient in producing individuals with knowledge, vision, and a focus on achieving success however, societal issues remain. This is because America is focused on producing "leaders". The continued perception and classification of social issues as liberal / conservative, democratic / republican, etc., reflect ego driven, divisive, and First Half (FH) of life thinking. Society can only progress and resolve its problems when it develops people who have a different focus about life. Society must develop elders. Second Half (SH) of life or elder thinking eliminates labeling and ego thereby making long term resolutions possible. Elder thinking is not automatically obtained upon reaching a certain age or retirement status. Rather, it is developed either naturally within established structures or individually elected and sought after. Currently, our leaders have stifled the natural development process and it will take at least a generation for this method to be revitalized. The second method can begin immediately. It is individualistic. As unlikely as it may seem, the second way is only possible after an individual is humbled by experiencing life's devastating events and, thereafter, elects to undertake a new but unclear, perhaps mystical or spiritual, journey to evolve into an elder. In doing so, the developing individual assimilates the concepts of suffering, love, empathy, good character, gratitude, trust, and hope with an outward focus towards others. Additionally, the individual becomes part of something bigger than their self. As the individual's life improves, so does the lives of others. Society then progresses.