Over the past couple of decades we have been able to walk with our children and their friend groups as they have matured and grown up. What a pleasure it is to walk with them, and share the beauty of life with them as they mature into beautiful adults following Christ!
From our observations of them and many others growing in their faith walks and taking from psychologists such as Jung, we wanted to write about What we look at as the 4 stages of life. As our kids move through the teen years they are unknowingly moving into a new stage, and this has prompted me to share more about it.
Before listing the 4 stages, it is good to remember that these are loose stages, and we can move back and forth from one stage to the next at points in our lives, key moments or hard times, progressing and digressing. Additionally, not all of us follow the patterns I outline as we talk about them. Some are earlier, some never reach the final stage, and it is possible to straddle the line between two phases. With that said, the 4 stages are: Athlete (up to age 22), Warrior (18-38), Statesman (35-55), and Spirit (50 and older). Typically the stages represent an ego-centered way of living moving to a spirit-filled way of living.
Athlete Phase: This is the stage where individuals are most concerned with their physical appearance, ego, and external achievements. It's a time of striving for success, recognition, and material wealth, often driven by a desire to prove oneself to the world.
Warrior Phase: In this phase, people begin to shift their focus from mere appearance and external validation to accomplishments and personal power. It's a stage of ambition, where individuals pursue goals, build careers, and assert their influence in the world. The emphasis is on control, winning, and achieving success.
Statesman Phase: As individuals mature, they start to move beyond the ego-driven desires of the earlier stages. This phase is characterized by a shift towards service, leadership, and contribution. People in this stage often seek to give back, mentor others, and make a positive impact on society. The focus becomes less about self and more about others.
Spirit Phase: In the final phase, there is a deep realization of the spiritual nature of life. Individuals in this stage often seek inner peace, spiritual growth, and a connection to a higher power or purpose. The focus is on transcendence, letting go of ego, and embracing a sense of oneness with the universe.
We hope this helps you as you look at your own life and even the life of your loved ones and those around you. Maybe it will help you reserve judgement from someone who is walking around as a mature looking adult but is still in the athlete stage in their development, or it can help you to appreciate the sage-iness of a spirit phased person in your life and you can call that out and be thankful for them.