What you should do at different stages of life is essential. When young, focus on studying and self-improvement. After starting to work, concentrate on your career. Success in your career is the best security for yourself and your family.

As we reach middle age, when we start feeling inadequate, we can’t focus on our careers anymore. Our bodies can’t keep up, and we get caught up in various worldly matters.

By the time we turn fifty, half of our life has passed. At this point, we realize that our life is mostly set. We understand the importance of doing our best and leaving the rest to fate. By the time we reach sixty, we become more easygoing.

We are more open to different opinions at seventy when we are nearing the end. As long as our actions stay within bounds, we prioritize our own happiness.

In middle age, don’t aim to be superior. Think more about reality.

If You Could Succeed, You Would Have Already Succeeded

Some things you have to admit: if you could succeed, you would have done so by now.

Perhaps some people only achieve success in middle age, but that success is built on earlier efforts. No one becomes successful overnight. You only see others’ success, not their hard work. Success may seem simple to you, but it’s actually a tough process, much like how ancient scholars spent years studying to become top scholars.

Everyone desires success, and most people work hard for it. However, only a few succeed. Therefore, becoming extremely successful is very challenging.

Health is More Important Than Money

Many people sacrifice their health to earn money and gain power. They not only invest time and energy but also compromise their health. Working tirelessly every day, your body is already struggling, relying solely on willpower.

In our youth, we trade our bodies for money. In old age, we use money to regain our health.

When young, occasional exhaustion isn’t a big deal, and resting adequately solves the issue. But if you’re in middle age and still pushing yourself like a young person, your body will suffer. For example, your eyesight may weaken, making it hard to read. Sitting at a computer for long periods can cause constant pain in your lower back, neck, and shoulders.

If work deteriorates your health, having all that money and power becomes meaningless. What use is wealth and influence without a healthy body to enjoy the fruits of your labor?

Instead of wasting time and energy, spend more time with family

We only have around twenty thousand days in our lives, and excluding sleep, our actual awake time is even less. As the ancients said, “Time is money,” and indeed, time cannot be bought with money. Even the wealthiest person in the world can’t slow down time with money. Therefore, we must cherish the present, live well, and spend quality time with family.

By middle age, half of our life has passed, or even more. If our parents are still alive, they are elderly and need our companionship.

Our children have grown up, and we have limited time to spend with them. Thus, we should make the effort to be with them more. At this age, many of us have grandchildren, and spending time with them allows us to see our children’s younger selves. Helping out with the grandchildren also strengthens our bond with them.

Life is short, and there’s no need to make it more stressful. As we reach middle age after working hard for decades, nearing retirement, we can relax. There’s no need to fantasize about the ambitions of our youth.

When you grow old, you’ll realize that whether you are rich or powerful, you need a good health and a warm family. We work hard to make our family’s lives better. If you sacrifice your family for work or even jeopardize your health, isn’t that getting things backward?

In middle age, don’t aim to be superior. Think more about reality. Your life will be much happier. If you keep comparing yourself to others, your pursuit will never end, and you won’t have a chance to catch your breath. Why bother?

Learn to treat yourself better. Make the most of your time on Earth. Learn to love life, enjoy it, and not be burdened by it.