The Great Midlife Edit

It's all an unlearning journey

For most of my life, I thought growth meant adding more.

More knowledge. More achievement. More approval.

But now I see it’s not about adding—it’s about subtracting.

• Letting go of the idea that success is defined by achievement.

• Letting go of the need to be liked by everyone.

• Letting go of the belief that getting things wrong means I’m wrong.

These stories shaped me.

They pushed me, praised me, and punished me.

And for a long time, I let them lead.

Success used to mean boxes ticked, milestones hit, and gold stars collected. But I was chasing someone else’s definition, not mine.

I used to bend myself into shapes that fit what others expected because being liked felt safer than being honest.

And every mistake? I wore it like a scarlet letter—proof that I wasn’t enough.

Unlearning these beliefs wasn’t fast or easy. Chip Conley calls it “The Midlife Edit”.

But it’s been the most freeing work I’ve ever done.

• I redefined success as alignment, not applause.

• I chose self-referencing over universal approval.

• I made peace with imperfection.

It’s lighter here. Not because life is easier but because I’m no longer carrying what isn’t mine.

This is what midlife is teaching me:

The path forward is often the path inward.

What have you been unlearning lately?