I am a big Taylor Swift fan. I’m not sure what it takes to qualify as a Swiftie and can’t say for sure that I make the cut since I don’t know all her songs and I haven’t seen her in concert. Still, I love the music I do know and I appreciate the way she conducts herself in interviews, the way she lives her life, the way she unapologetically writes songs about her experiences, the way she supports the cities that host her concerts and more. Her vulnerability, undeniable talent, business savvy and investment in her community of friends and community at large inspire me. On par with all that, I am grateful to Taylor Swift for giving us “Eras” language. Her current epic tour – the Eras tour – is a concert tour that pays tribute to her 10 studio albums and their unique styles and staging. We evolve and connect better as humans when we have appropriate, evolved language. Eras language helps when I think of writing the next chapter of my life story.
Taylor’s eras include those that represent her time as a country artist, her transition from country to pop music, the pandemic era of storytelling and flowy dresses, autumn energy, cozy sweaters, braids, and her public feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. She’s only 34 years old and has experienced, defined, and learned from so many eras of her life. Her eras are wrought with emotion and none of the eras are all happy, sad, or angry. Every era is a mixed bag. The utility of speaking in terms of eras lies in the implicit reminder that whatever we’ve gone through and whatever we’re going through will come to an end. And a new complicated era is right around the corner, waiting to begin.
New Eras and Next Chapters
Writing your next chapter can bring up every emotion in the book. There’s a plethora of emotion associated with whatever it is you’re leaving behind, whether it’s your “glasses, braces, acne, and growth spurt” in 5th grade or your “menopausal” era at midlife. Myriad emotions also arise in connection with whatever’s coming next. Excitement, anticipation, anxiety, terror, delight, distress, and the list goes on. The thing is, eras and next chapters are not defined by any single emotion. None of us gets a happy era, a sad era, a challenging era, a frightening era. Every era is all of those things. Whatever chapter you write next has more to do with the goals you set for yourself than the way you anticipate feeling.
Thinking of new eras as next chapters to be written speaks to the fact that we are more in control of our own stories than we might realize. After reflecting on eras gone by, we can learn from past experiences and let them inform but not dictate the goals, values, and vision that will define the next era, our next chapter. So often, we operate reactively. When we take the time to recognize the end of an era, though, we can also take the time to think about where we’d like to see the protagonist in our story go next. Intentionality changes the game.
The length and character of an era becomes clear with hindsight. Defining a vision, setting goals and committing to your story are forward thinking. Writing your own story is creating “future you” art. Let your next chapter be your intentional masterpiece.
Musical Playlist While You Ponder This Post
Every Day I Write the Book by Elvis Costello, We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel, End of an Era by Dua Lipa, Tapestry by Carole King, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day, New Day by Alicia Keys, Story of My Life by One Direction, We Are Young by fun., featuring Janelle Monae, Brand New by Ben Rector, Best Day of My Life by American Authors, I Know the End by Phoebe Bridgers
Thinking and Trying
Something to think about: “It’s never too late to be who you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Something to try: You are the protagonist of your next chapter. Take a few minutes to consider who this protagonist is in terms of personality traits, interests, inner circle, and dreams at the beginning of this chapter. Then consider how you would describe this character when they are in a state of optimal health and wellness. Now start living the story you want to write.
Coaching Can Help
Are you ready to write a next chapter and feel unsure how to start? It may help to work with a coach. I’d be happy to hop on a 15-minute call with you over Zoom to explain coaching and give us a chance to see if we’re a good fit to work together. This discovery call is free and can be reserved here.
