Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Whole?: An Exploration of Meaning in the Second Half of Life

By Andrew Lee Thorn PhD

In the first half of life, you were asked two powerful questions that inspired your actions, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and "What do you do?".

In the second half of life, you need a question that will inspire you. "Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Whole: An Exploration of Meaning in the Second Half of Life" invites readers to explore the pivotal transition that happens to all of us during the second half of life.

This interactive book inspires the journey toward wholeness and exposes a pathway for those who wish to become lifelong learners. In this easy to read, highly energetic, and relatable format, the reader travels the path from ambition to meaning.

Each chapter ends with powerful questions that encourage you to listen to your own voice and record the personal wisdom you receive as you ponder your efforts to grow whole.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098377458

Book preview

cover.jpg

Praise for

Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Whole?

Andrew Thorn brings inspiring insight and deep truth to examine the single most important life question: finding your life purpose. By focusing his own purpose upon this vital and elusive question, Thorn has given us all a great gift. A must read for anyone who wants to discover why meaning truly matters.

—Richard Leider, best-selling author of Repacking Your Bags and

The Power of Purpose

A must read for all those in the second half of life. Dr. Andrew Thorn takes you on a journey with questions and ideas that are not only thought provoking but also life changing. By asking a few poignant questions and raising self-awareness, we become meaning makers, moving us toward a life with purpose and fulfillment. I love knowing that it is not just luck in getting to live a life with purpose but a choice that we can make now so we can arrive at the end knowing how to be. By reading this book you are certain to clarify what is important in your life now.

—Paulette Lambert RD, CDE, Director of Nutrition, California Health & Longevity Institute and Dietician, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

For most of us, growing up meant acquisition – more knowledge, more experiences, more stuff. Yet in his new book, Dr. Andrew Thorn points out that the second half of our lives can be so much richer when we focus instead on being and living, rather than on doing. Taking a nontraditional approach in both his writing and coaching, Thorn, by his own admission, isn’t interested in helping his clients achieve more, but rather in helping them understand the deeper meaning of their previously acquired personal and professional successes. Part philosopher, part poet and part Zen master, Thorn has created a beautiful, must-read guidebook for anyone who looking to be whole.

—Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author of MOJO and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

This book is a remarkable union of psychology, philosophy, and theology. It provides a practical pathway to examine your life and to create an optimal plan for the use of your remaining mortal years. I highly recommend it!

—Jack Zenger, CEO of Zenger Folkman and co-author of the best-selling The Extraordinary Leader and The Extraordinary Coach

Forget about having a midlife crisis! Read this book and you’ll increase your personal vision and be amazed at how it helps you get your life tuned in to becoming the person you were meant to be. In my work as a marriage and family therapist, I have seen that it’s within our intimate relationships that we have the ideal crucible to become whole. Whole people make the best marriage partners too! This book helps people DO and BE just that—whole, complete, and better developed in areas that may be lacking. You’ll definitely be raising the bar on your life and your relationships by reading and applying the principles in this fabulous book!

—Laura M. Brotherson, MS, MFT, Marriage and Intimacy Expert, author of And They Were Not Ashamed: Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment, host of The Marital Intimacy Show, and founder of www.StrengtheningMarriage.com

Every year at crowded commencements, millions hear wise words about the importance of starting well. Few remember what is said – which is to be expected when you hear answers before life has asked its questions. In this book, Dr. Andrew Thorn offers encouraging guidance to those who find themselves at the midpoint of life’s journey. How should we respond to the unplanned challenges, miscues, injustices, or surprises of life? You’ll learn from Dr. Thorn that starting well, may be good, but finishing well is infinitely better. And it’s possible for you!

—John D. Miller, Vice Chancellor, Pepperdine University

The best thing about Dr. Andrew Thorn is actually being with him. As I continue my life’s journey to ‘wholeness,’ sharing time with Andrew is always an accelerant. The next best thing to being with Andrew is speaking with him on the phone. Finally, if you are not lucky enough to be in his presence or hear his voice, then this book is a must for all those interested in finding more meaning and deeper purpose in their lives.

—David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA, President, UCLA Health System and CEO, UCLA Hospital System

Every successful person experiences that point in life described by Dr. Andrew Thorn when there is the jarring realization that goals have not been reached and individual worth is questioned. Dr. Thorn’s marvelous new book is the primer one needs to understand why we reach this crisis point, and, more importantly, what we can do to get back on track to ‘grow whole’ to find greater purpose and meaning in our lives.

—Manny Medrano, Trial Attorney and Emmy Award–Winning Broadcast Journalist

"This book is a must read for those who have found themselves seemingly locked within an endless cycle of ladder climbing and moving from one achievement to the next without a true understanding or having lost who one is and what they truly want for themselves, their family, and their legacy.

Knowing Andrew both personally and professionally, I can say authentically that this book is a near-perfect reflection of his genuine concern for his friends, family, and clients to escape the bondage of their self-deception and truly become their whole selves. As I find myself on the journey of becoming my whole self, this book distills the questions, concerns, and opportunities perfectly for me while asking me to engage in self-reflection and interact with Andrew as I read his words. His insight applies to becoming your whole self which will not only benefit yourself, but your coworkers, friends, and your family."

 —Maxim Williams, Director, Community Relationship Building, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville, SC

This is exactly what leaders of today need. Andrew addresses the issues of ‘growing whole’ with clarity and insight. The thought-provoking questions are powerful, inspiring, and useful. This is a great read on aligning my current endeavors with what I want my legacy to be. I highly recommend this book.

—Kurt Anderson, Operations Improvement Consultant, St. Luke’s Health System

This book has challenged me on every level of my life. I love how it reminds me that life is about thriving and not just surviving. Truly the best book I have read in a long time!

—Eddie Peterson, CEO of Josephine G. Cook Foundation, author of

You Don’t Know My Life

First Edition Copyright © 2012 by Andrew Lee Thorn, PhD

All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America.

Telios Press, 346 S 100 W Nephi UT 84648

Library of Congress Control Number:

US Copyright Number: 1-748751451

Thorn, Andrew Lee

Who Do You Want To Be When You Grow Whole: An Exploration of Meaning in the Second Half of Life / by Andrew Lee Thorn, PhD

ISBN 978-1-09837-744-1

eBook 978-1-09837-745-8

1. Second Half of Life 2. Success in life 3. Growing Whole

Telios Press books are available for special promotions, premiums, or corporate training. For details, contact Stacy Thorn, Special Markets, Telios Press at 1-801-702-3548

First Hardback Edition, 2012 – Second Edition, 2021

To Stacy, my beautiful wife: you continue to teach me what it means to grow whole. I am happy that I get to spend the rest of my forever with you!

Additional Works by Dr, Andrew Lee Thorn, PhD

U-wun-ge-lay-ma

A Guide to Next Level Living

Telios Publications 2010

Leading With Your Legacy in Mind

Building Lasting Value in Business and Life

McGraw Hill – 2014

The Man Who Kept Marching

A Biography of the Life of James Craig Larson

Telios Publication - 2021

The Humble Giant

A Biography of the Life of Wayne Leon Nielson

Telios Publications - 2021

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1 Come Fly with Me

Chapter 2 Growing Whole

Chapter 3 The Big Oven

Chapter 4 The Gap

Chapter 5 Who Am I?

Chapter 6 Living into Your To Be List

Chapter 7 Doing, Doing, Doing

Chapter 8 Living into Your Legacy

Chapter 9 Sustaining Momentum