Just as you live, you will eventually die. For your descendants life will go on as your legacy continues with what you’ve left behind. To better understand life in general, here are the four stages that makes up all human beings in the world:
1.
Stage One: Play, Imitation, and Education
Birth – Infancy – Childhood – Adolescence
Birth – Infancy – Childhood – Adolescence
Stage one in l life represents the basics. In this time
of life, you learn how to walk, talk and other simple tasks like feeding
yourself. You observe other people’s behavior
and imitate their actions. This helps us to pick up important abilities and
skills. By mimicking others, you gradually learn to fit into society. Rules are
imposed upon us, and you are taught to behave and think in socially
acceptable manners. Out of all the stages of life, this one helps us to lay the
proper foundation.
The greatest
danger you encounter during this stage is that you are not able to let go of
the need for external confirmation. Some people never manage to move out of
this stage. In their mind, they are still adolescents that imitate adults. They
try to fit in and do everything they can in order to please others. The
dependency upon other people’s approval prohibits the individual’s growth and
development. The capability of independent thinking has not yet reached a state
in which you are courageous enough to embark on our own journey.
2.
Stage
Two: Self-Discovery, Enterprise, and Adventure
Adolescence – Early Adulthood – Adulthood
Stage two begins in adolescence or early adulthood and
generally ends in the late
twenties early thirties. The child has grown into an adult who
now has to apply the skills learned throughout the initial stage of life. The
education of the adolescent continues. It is now a more focused approach to
acquiring knowledge in various different disciplines. The end of adolescence
marks the beginning of adulthood. It is the longest phase in the human life
cycle. The bodily transformation reaches its completion.
It is a time
during which the young individual explores life, and goes out to leave their
mark on the world. The education has been completed and the focus lies now on
acquiring a good job. The second stage is all about teaching us to be truly
individual. You start increasing our independence by making decisions of our
own, but you also have to accept the consequences that come with it. You
challenge ourselves and seek to gain our own understanding about life. Most
importantly, you finally have the courage to discover who you really are.
You want to learn what separates us from others. The
desire to explore life increases our willingness to take risks. You start to
experiment with new and exciting possibilities. You make mistakes, learn from
them, and continue with something else. One crucial lesson of the second stage
is to show us that you are limited. You discover our weaknesses and are
confronted with our failures. Stage two helps us to stand apart.
3.
Stage Three:
Dedication, Contemplation, and Benevolence
Adulthood – Midlife – Mature Adulthood
Adulthood – Midlife – Mature Adulthood
Stage three is
initiated when the responsibilities of the individual start to increase. What
was once an independent being will find itself confronted with many different
challenges among them coping and financial pressures. Wishes of independence,
exploration, and freedom are now replaced by marriage and the wish to settle
down and start a family. The third stage plays a significant role in an adult’s
life. It is during this time when you initiate the life cycle once again by
having children of your own. The focus now lies on the growth of one’s career
and development of the young family.
A major turning point during stage three has
arrived once the children begin to leave the nest. But now, for the very first
time, the individual is confronted with a new situation. The obligations and
responsibilities placed by society upon them start to decrease. Perhaps for the
very first time, the individual starts to ponder about the true meaning of
their life. It’s a stage of deep contemplation.
While some
develop a profound understanding of human life, others will find themselves in
a midlife crisis. At the beginning of stage three, you are calmer. The third
stage can be categorized as the process of decluttering one’s life. You have a
much clearer understanding of the things that are truly important to us. Our
patience with time-wasting activities and energy-draining friends decreases drastically.
It’s a stage
where many of these mindless hobbies and bad friends leave never to be seen
again. The pursuit of your dreams has become more important to you than
anything else. This stage of life is centered on the creation of your
legacy. You will strive to make the most of your life by living up to your full
potential. All of this is fueled by the desire to leave your mark on the world.
Most
people in stage three have
the desire to leave the world a better place than how they found it. Stage
three begins in the 30s and ends around retirement age.
4. Stage Four:
Retirement, Wisdom, and Renunciation
Late Adulthood – Death
During mature
adulthood, the children have left the home, and the work life of the individual
reaches its completion. In many cases, the elderly take up a new role of
volunteers and mentors who guide the younger generations. They represent a
source of wisdom the following generations can tap into if they are wise enough
to do so.
While this is a
painful experience for the relatives of the deceased one, it serves as a
reminder for the younger generations to make the most out of their time on
Earth, and to be grateful for their lives. The last stage in a human’s life is well
deserved. People worked hard all their life long, accomplished great things, and
ensured the continuance of their family and mankind.
From a psychological perspective, the last
stage helps us to accept the fact of our own mortality. Stage four is
psychological, and it’s about finding meaning in life and death. By this
age, you should be at peace with the human condition. The end will come, and you
have accepted this truth.
“Everyone has a friend during each stage of
life, but only lucky ones have
the same friend in all stages of life.” (Anonymous)[i]
the same friend in all stages of life.” (Anonymous)[i]
[i] Sources used:
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