Wisdom for Midlife: Letting Go, Leaning In, and Finding New Purpose

I read From Strength to Strength at a time when I really needed it — while juggling the hormonal chaos of perimenopause, raising kids who are growing up way too fast, and navigating the daily highs and lows of being a full-time working mom. On any given day, I’m answering emails, running to meetings, refereeing sibling squabbles, and Googling “how to survive a panic attack in public.”

Arthur C. Brooks’ words felt like a balm — wise, steady, and deeply compassionate.

The Two Curves of Life

Brooks talks about the “two curves” of life. The first curve is all about professional achievement — the promotions, the checklists, the gold stars. That’s where I still am: balancing deadlines with dinner plans, professional goals with personal chaos. But Brooks reminded me that while we may not always climb higher, we can climb differently.

As he writes:

“The striver’s success curve naturally declines—but a second curve, built on wisdom, relationships, and faith, can ascend.”

That line stopped me. Because while I’m still in the thick of striving, I don’t want to miss the chance to build that second curve — the one where I’m not just achieving, but actually becoming.

When Midlife Feels Like a Plot Twist

If perimenopause has taught me anything, it’s that nothing feels quite in my control anymore — my body, my moods, my thermostat. Add to that the ever-changing needs of my kids, and I sometimes wonder if I accidentally wandered into a reality show called Survivor: Zenopause Edition.

Brooks’ stories hit me right where I live. Charles Darwin, for example, who changed the world with his brilliance but spent his later years discouraged because he couldn’t work the same way anymore. I get that fear — the whisper that maybe you’re losing relevance.

But then Brooks shares Johann Sebastian Bach’s story — a man who, in his later years, quietly wrote sacred music for small audiences. As Brooks puts it:

“Bach moved from worldly excellence to spiritual fulfillment. That was his second curve.”

That gives me hope. Because even in a season of transition, meaning doesn’t fade; it transforms.

What My Kids Are Teaching Me

Of course, just as I was underlining a passage about spiritual maturity, my daughter H plopped on my lap and said:

“Mommy, you look pretty today.”

me: “Thank you! How kind of you to say something.”

H: “When you die, can I have that shirt?”

So much for enlightenment.

But maybe that’s the point. Life doesn’t pause for wisdom. It invites us to find it in the middle of the chaos — during carpool, during peak anxiety, even during morbid wardrobe negotiations with your 10-year-old.

And then there’s T, my little diplomat, who recently confessed he doesn’t stand up to mean kids because he’s “afraid of getting hit in the face.” My advice? “Next time, lead with that — it’ll save us time when discussing strategy.” These kids remind me daily that wisdom is less about being perfect and more about being present (and sometimes very, very funny).

My Zenopause Takeaway

What I loved most about From Strength to Strength was the blend of research, spiritual insight, and real-life humanity. Brooks doesn’t sugarcoat the losses that come with midlife, but he offers a path forward that feels empowering, not depressing.

For me, it was a reminder that my second curve is already forming — in the way I show up for my kids, in how I handle change with a little more grace (and a lot more deep breathing), and in the spiritual strength I’m slowly building.

If you’re in a season of transition — especially if you’re a working mom juggling hormonal shifts, evolving family roles, and a to-do list that laughs at you every morning — this book might be the permission slip you didn’t know you needed. Not to do more, but to become more.

Because maybe the greatest strength of midlife isn’t what we accomplish — it’s who we become.