Hey everyone!
Something interesting happened recently that made me pause and think about where I am in life. As I'm turning 45 this year, I stumbled across an article about Carl Jung that completely shifted my perspective on this stage of life. I wanted to share these thoughts with you because they might resonate whether you're just starting your career, in your 30s like I was not long ago, or navigating midlife yourself.
Carl Jung's Perspective on Midlife
Jung had this fascinating idea that was pretty controversial back in the early 20th century: life doesn't truly begin until midlife. Reading his thoughts felt like someone had peered into my current experience and put it into words.
He believed that midlife offers us this incredible opportunity for freedom - to finally live on our own terms rather than those set by our parents or even our younger selves. It's this beautiful mix of light and dark, successes and failures, dreams we chased and disappointments we faced along the way.
As Jung put it: "The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely." But it's also the most liberating.
Jung's perspective challenges our society's view of ageing
The Industry Narrative vs. Reality
Society often tells us that hitting your 40s means you're approaching the end of what you can accomplish professionally. But I've found the opposite to be true, especially in our field.
Game development and animation take a lifetime to master. The complexity of engines, constantly evolving technology, and the artistry of animation means we're always learning. Look at Disney's Nine Old Men - they continued to grow and refine their craft throughout their careers.
As artists and developers, we never truly perfect our craft - and that's actually a beautiful thing.
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