The Second-Half Journey: Moving from Survival to Thriving

Hey friends,

This week on the Good / True / & Beautiful Podcast, I sat down once again with my friend Dr. Kelly Flanagan. Every time Kelly joins the conversation, it feels like an old song I’ve always known—familiar, grounding, and full of wisdom.

We didn’t come in with an agenda. Instead, we simply invited listeners to eavesdrop on two friends talking about the human journey—the tensions of moving forward while remembering who we’ve always been.

Together, we introduced a metaphor that really connected the dots: relational calluses. Just like physical calluses, they form slowly over time—through friction, bruises, and the subtle ways we protect ourselves. By midlife, many of us realize we’re living more from our protective selves than our connective selves. The result? Our hearts close when what we most long for is connection.

We talked about:

• The ego castle we build with walls, cannons, and thrones to feel safe.

• The drawbridge we long to lower so we can meet the world with authenticity.

• The body’s early warning signs when our hearts begin to close.

• The invitation of the second half of life: moving from survival to thriving.

Kelly’s reminder is clear: an open heart isn’t a weaker heart—it’s a wiser one. When we practice keeping our hearts open, we regain clarity, intuition, freedom from old emotional patterns, and the ability to participate in life rather than control it.

If you need a breadcrumb of encouragement this weekend, maybe it’s this: the opposite of control is not letting go—it’s participation.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Grace and peace,
Ashton