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Aging Strong: Living It Forward and Giving It Back
Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here
We are living up to thirty years longer than people a few generations ago did. In Aging Strong Dr. Harris shows that this "extraordinary gift of a longer life" is the opportunity to go deep inside ourselves and meet the spiritual challenge to develop a new story and purpose for ourselves during the fourth quarter of life. It is the opportunity to explore our creativity, discover new vocations and callings, learn to thrive, hold a sense of wonder, and establish a new sense of security in life. It is the gift of deeper emotional connections, wisdom, and newfound joy in living.
This book is written for you...
- If you want to thrive and find spiritual strength, wellbeing, wisdom, and wonder as you grow older.
- If you are willing to recognize that we live in a new period of history where we can live longer and with more vitality than people ever have.
- If you are ready to embrace this new reality and live the fourth quarter of your life creatively, lovingly, and joyfully.
The most exciting part of this gift is that the more we pursue a larger life by deepening and transforming ourselves as we grow older, the bigger our gift to our families, friends, community, and culture becomes. Let us recognize this challenge as one of the greatest opportunities in human history. Let us shape our lives from the inside out and be fully alive with grace and passion so that we may give this gift to our communities and to our world.
We are living up to thirty years longer than people a few generations ago did. In Aging Strong Dr. Harris shows that this "extraordinary gift of a longer life" is the opportunity to go deep inside ourselves and meet the spiritual challenge to develop a new story and purpose for ourselves during the fourth quarter of life. It is the opportunity to explore our creativity, discover new vocations and callings, learn to thrive, hold a sense of wonder, and establish a new sense of security in life. It is the gift of deeper emotional connections, wisdom, and newfound joy in living.
This book is written for you...
- If you want to thrive and find spiritual strength, wellbeing, wisdom, and wonder as you grow older.
- If you are willing to recognize that we live in a new period of history where we can live longer and with more vitality than people ever have.
- If you are ready to embrace this new reality and live the fourth quarter of your life creatively, lovingly, and joyfully.
The most exciting part of this gift is that the more we pursue a larger life by deepening and transforming ourselves as we grow older, the bigger our gift to our families, friends, community, and culture becomes. Let us recognize this challenge as one of the greatest opportunities in human history. Let us shape our lives from the inside out and be fully alive with grace and passion so that we may give this gift to our communities and to our world.
156 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
29 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Bud Harris
28 books55 followers“Bud Harris is a lantern on the path—clear-eyed, big-hearted, and illuminating.”
– Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way
Bud Harris, PhD, is one of the most prolific Jungian authors of our time. He's authored and co-authored 15 books, and has been in the field of Jungian psychology for 30 years. At 82 years old, he has a long-standing practice in Asheville, North Carolina, which is still thriving.
Bud Harris defines himself as a husband, a father, grandfather, psychologist and Jungian analyst. Early in his life he earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech in Atlanta Georgia. After Tech, Bud became a businessman and then owned his own business which he operated successfully. However, in spite of his achievements, he found his life in the cul-de-sac that he explains in his book Sacred Selfishness.
Following a period of dissatisfaction and searching, he returned to school to change careers and eventually earned his Ph.D. in psychology.
After becoming a psychotherapist and psychologist, he experienced the call to further his growth by becoming a Jungian analyst. Bud moved to Zürich, Switzerland where he trained for over five years until he became a diplomate Jungian analyst. Bud explains that “In many ways my educational odyssey has been a reflection of the transformational pattern of my life.” Bud notes that writing Sacred Selfishness (his fourth book) was a labor of love. He says, “Jungian work becomes the path of a authentic life, a life that is fulfilling, passionate and full of love. And this journey is fueled by self-knowledge and awareness. This is the path that healed and
transformed my life.”
“I also wanted to write the book I wish someone had written when I was struggling in my early thirties or at midlife. By this I mean a book for everyone that isn’t loaded with professional jargon. While I love the books by Jung and other depth psychologists, I found them difficult until I became schooled in the field.”
– Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way
Bud Harris, PhD, is one of the most prolific Jungian authors of our time. He's authored and co-authored 15 books, and has been in the field of Jungian psychology for 30 years. At 82 years old, he has a long-standing practice in Asheville, North Carolina, which is still thriving.
Bud Harris defines himself as a husband, a father, grandfather, psychologist and Jungian analyst. Early in his life he earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech in Atlanta Georgia. After Tech, Bud became a businessman and then owned his own business which he operated successfully. However, in spite of his achievements, he found his life in the cul-de-sac that he explains in his book Sacred Selfishness.
Following a period of dissatisfaction and searching, he returned to school to change careers and eventually earned his Ph.D. in psychology.
After becoming a psychotherapist and psychologist, he experienced the call to further his growth by becoming a Jungian analyst. Bud moved to Zürich, Switzerland where he trained for over five years until he became a diplomate Jungian analyst. Bud explains that “In many ways my educational odyssey has been a reflection of the transformational pattern of my life.” Bud notes that writing Sacred Selfishness (his fourth book) was a labor of love. He says, “Jungian work becomes the path of a authentic life, a life that is fulfilling, passionate and full of love. And this journey is fueled by self-knowledge and awareness. This is the path that healed and
transformed my life.”
“I also wanted to write the book I wish someone had written when I was struggling in my early thirties or at midlife. By this I mean a book for everyone that isn’t loaded with professional jargon. While I love the books by Jung and other depth psychologists, I found them difficult until I became schooled in the field.”
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 17, 2016
We are living longer than ever before. But this is uncharted territory with many questions and unknowns. How do you live a vibrant, active life in these years? How do you deal with fears of aging? How can you find a defining purpose in these years? Is it possible to be called into a new way of living?
At age 72, I struggle with all these questions and more. While searching for answers, I received a copy of Aging Strong. I had just started reading when I thought, "Bud Harris wrote this book for me." Dr. Harris seemed to be speaking directly to me. He describes the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond as the "Fourth Quarter" the time when life can be full of potentials, new beginnings, vitality, and authenticity. His book describes these years as a journey out of the old way of living into a new way of living. Bud is the perfect guide for this journey. He shares personal stories of struggle and uncertainty, and, at the same time, expresses vitality and passion for aging strong at almost 80 years of age. Bud includes many inspiring and encouraging stories from his long professional life as a Jungian Analyst and psychotherapist. The account of a woman in her early 70s studying at the Jung Institute in Zurich was especially exciting and reassuring. The 70s can, indeed, be a time of growth and adventure.
I am inspired to begin the journey into a new way of living and I highly recommend Aging Strong.
At age 72, I struggle with all these questions and more. While searching for answers, I received a copy of Aging Strong. I had just started reading when I thought, "Bud Harris wrote this book for me." Dr. Harris seemed to be speaking directly to me. He describes the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond as the "Fourth Quarter" the time when life can be full of potentials, new beginnings, vitality, and authenticity. His book describes these years as a journey out of the old way of living into a new way of living. Bud is the perfect guide for this journey. He shares personal stories of struggle and uncertainty, and, at the same time, expresses vitality and passion for aging strong at almost 80 years of age. Bud includes many inspiring and encouraging stories from his long professional life as a Jungian Analyst and psychotherapist. The account of a woman in her early 70s studying at the Jung Institute in Zurich was especially exciting and reassuring. The 70s can, indeed, be a time of growth and adventure.
I am inspired to begin the journey into a new way of living and I highly recommend Aging Strong.
October 23, 2016
Forced to retire at 60, I found nothing to catch my interest for the rest of my life. I dabbled with alcohol and depression, finding neither satisfactory. Eventually I was exposed to Dr. Harris' Sacred Selfishness, which described to me a whole inner world, that I had no idea was there. Walking down the path of reflection and inner exploration, with the assistance of a Jungian-trained analyst, I learned, and more importantly, remembered, past emotions, events and scars.
When I was given Aging Strong I thought, I'm now 70, what can this book teach me that I haven't already learned? What folly! Dr. Harris has given me the roadmap to the rest of my life. If only I had received this when I retired at 60.
I live in a retirement community and I see a lot of death and dying. But there are some here, living out the last quarter of their lives, who have grabbed life by the horns and recreated themselves. Aging Strong lays out the importance of making the most of the final quarter of your life and how to do it. You may not know what your long-hoped-for desire is to accomplish, but this book will help you find it and begin.
When I was given Aging Strong I thought, I'm now 70, what can this book teach me that I haven't already learned? What folly! Dr. Harris has given me the roadmap to the rest of my life. If only I had received this when I retired at 60.
I live in a retirement community and I see a lot of death and dying. But there are some here, living out the last quarter of their lives, who have grabbed life by the horns and recreated themselves. Aging Strong lays out the importance of making the most of the final quarter of your life and how to do it. You may not know what your long-hoped-for desire is to accomplish, but this book will help you find it and begin.
February 6, 2017
I received this book free from Goodreads Giveaways. The author is a practicing Jungian analyst in Asheville, North Carolina. I think this book is good for anyone wanting to age well and live a more dynamic life. It encourages and helps the reader to look inside themselves for new possibilities and goals during their senior years; to recognize and overcome any resentments, fears and insecurities they might still have.
January 10, 2017
This is a very interesting and inspiring read. Dr. Harris, an octogenarian Jungian analyst, offers a positive outlook on the aging process and how to empower ourselves in the face of what's arguably the most challenging time in the individual human experience.
October 25, 2016
Dr. Harris, in his book Aging Strong, points out that in the first half of our lives we are establishing our sense of identity, achieving and proving our competence. In doing this, we want to gain a sense of security and acceptance. Too often we separate our minds and our hearts. He points out that commonly between midlife and the last quarter of our lives we face one or more major life changes with a job loss, divorce, death of a love one or a major illness. These crises create varying degrees of suffering and challenging emotions including anxiety, fear, depression, anger and even despair. Our culture, as Harris points out, encourages us to deny our pain and suffering and get on with our life, back to “normal”. Our culture emphasizes we should always be positive and implies something is wrong with us if we are struggling. Dr. Harris encourages us to muster our courage and explore the deeper meanings of these challenging events and the emotions we are experiencing. He emphasizes that our emotions can connect us to the vibrancy of life. They are messengers, our guides to our deeper meanings.
Harrris says we have the potential to gain new wisdom and spiritual depth if we are willing to avoid numbing and distracting ourselves during these challenging events. He emphasizes that the deeper levels of meaning we gain through more self-knowledge can lead us to a more passionate, loving and fulfilling life. This journey in gaining self-knowledge requires courage and commitment to do the work as we heal the wounds of childhood where we were not seen for who we were. Too often we were seen for who we could become in our achievement driven culture. What did we have to hide in our family to be safe and accepted? We often had to give up our assertiveness, creativity, emotional life, or our true voice as we learned to accommodate.
This journey offers us an opportunity to flourish psychologically and spiritually even when our physical body is experiencing the changes of aging. Dr. Harris provides multiple stories of individuals he has worked with that discovered fuller and more meaningful lives than they could have imagined. He quotes Carl Jung; “We have an inner guide that will help us if we are willing to go on the journey”. Dr. Jung calls this inner guide the Self and separates it from our ego or the lesser self. Dr. Harris invites us to go on this journey of self-knowledge and bring into our consciousness elements that are influencing our lives out of our awareness. This journey is not about overcoming with willpower. Rather it is about accepting our vulnerability, awkwardness, and shadow parts as we learn to love all of who we are, letting go of our neurotic guilt and shame. This journey is about our courage to commit to the work and own our self-compassion and our true compassion for those we love. What unlived life is waiting for us to discover? Dr. Harris emphasizes we must become courageous seekers.
Harrris says we have the potential to gain new wisdom and spiritual depth if we are willing to avoid numbing and distracting ourselves during these challenging events. He emphasizes that the deeper levels of meaning we gain through more self-knowledge can lead us to a more passionate, loving and fulfilling life. This journey in gaining self-knowledge requires courage and commitment to do the work as we heal the wounds of childhood where we were not seen for who we were. Too often we were seen for who we could become in our achievement driven culture. What did we have to hide in our family to be safe and accepted? We often had to give up our assertiveness, creativity, emotional life, or our true voice as we learned to accommodate.
This journey offers us an opportunity to flourish psychologically and spiritually even when our physical body is experiencing the changes of aging. Dr. Harris provides multiple stories of individuals he has worked with that discovered fuller and more meaningful lives than they could have imagined. He quotes Carl Jung; “We have an inner guide that will help us if we are willing to go on the journey”. Dr. Jung calls this inner guide the Self and separates it from our ego or the lesser self. Dr. Harris invites us to go on this journey of self-knowledge and bring into our consciousness elements that are influencing our lives out of our awareness. This journey is not about overcoming with willpower. Rather it is about accepting our vulnerability, awkwardness, and shadow parts as we learn to love all of who we are, letting go of our neurotic guilt and shame. This journey is about our courage to commit to the work and own our self-compassion and our true compassion for those we love. What unlived life is waiting for us to discover? Dr. Harris emphasizes we must become courageous seekers.
February 17, 2017
Enjoyed reading this book. It has many good ideas on aging well, ones we can all use, as we will all get older, we can age better with this books insights. Also liked about how we can give back to others or good causes, even if we are old. Recommend.
October 25, 2016
How do you think about aging? Do you see it as a time of decline? If so this book will challenge that view. Dr. Harris writes that we are living years longer than people in past generations, and this means that past views of aging are no longer relevant. He calls the new extension of life the “fourth quarter”. Aging Strong offers a challenging, positive and hopeful vision for this new fourth quarter of life. It sets out the possibility of an inner journey where we can find a resource that Harris calls the “Big Self” that can give our life in the fourth quarter meaning and purpose. In contrast to conventional views of aging Dr. Harris sees the fourth quarter of life as a time to “grow, to flourish creatively, and to fashion a better world.” He believes that those in the fourth quarter can be change agents for society. This is because many in this phase of life are free of economic and family constraints of earlier life. The book acknowledges that it is a difficult challenge to take the inner journey that makes its positive vision possible. This is because our society does everything to distract us. However, that the positive vision of the fourth quarter of life is possible is supported by Dr. Harris’s own life experience that he shares in the book. As one in the fourth quarter of life I find myself challenged and reassured to follow the path Aging Strong sets out by Dr. Harris’s affirmation “as I am on the cusp of my eighth decade, I find I am living with more clarity, passion, and purpose than I ever have.”
January 9, 2017
I was fortunate to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Although I am not yet to the age where this affects me, I found this book very positive and encouraging. I do have aging parents and hope that they are able to live their lives in an empowered way. It encourages us to flourish both psychologically and spiritually even when the physical body is aging. Dr Harris provides many examples of people who are enjoying life using his suggestions. I think it's a good read for anyone who doesn't want their life to "stop" after the age of 60. Dr. Harris has thirty-five years experience as a psychologist and Jungian analyst and his insights prove very helpful.It's short, concise and well written and recommended.
January 9, 2017
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Very quick and easy book to read.
Great guide for those who are part of our "adult" society.
The one complaint is that once your physical or mental health declines, it is very hard to adapt and move forward. Very important to take care of both at all ages.
As the author suggested, I am a big fan of writing down our individual "stories" as therapy for the mind.
Very quick and easy book to read.
Great guide for those who are part of our "adult" society.
The one complaint is that once your physical or mental health declines, it is very hard to adapt and move forward. Very important to take care of both at all ages.
As the author suggested, I am a big fan of writing down our individual "stories" as therapy for the mind.
March 19, 2017
Wow. great reading and very positive! I am 51 at present, and the book resonated. Thoughtful, well written and encouraging. I received this as a Goodreads Giveaway and grateful for it!
Read
December 22, 2016Great book and as usual for author Bud Harris well written.
Read
October 12, 2021Too much surface; not enough depth.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews