Falling Upward

A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

By: Richard Rohr

Narrated by: Richard Rohr

In the first half of life, we are naturally preoccupied with establishing ourselves; climbing, achieving, and performing. But as we grow older and encounter challenges and mistakes, we need to see ourselves in a different and more life-giving way. This message of falling down - that is in fact moving upward - is the most resisted and counterintuitive of messages in the world's religions.

Falling Upward offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life's mysteries: how those who have fallen down are the only ones who understand "up". We grow spiritually more by doing it wrong than by doing it right, and the disappointments of life are actually stepping stones to the spiritual joys in the second half of life.

©2011 Richard Rohr (P)2011 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"[P]rovocative." ( Publishers Weekly)

"[A] trustworthy guide to the spiritual life." (BlogCritics.org)

"Understanding the spiritual aspects of aging is as important as appreciating the systems and biological processes that age us. Richard Rohr has given us a perfect guide to what he calls the 'further journey,' a voyage into the mystery mystery and beauty of healthy spiritual maturity." (Mehmet Oz, M.D., host of the Dr. Oz Show)

Thoughtful, human, compassionate, insightful . . .

Surprisingly, a very easy-to-listen-to book with shared insights into humanity, specifically focusing on the maturity gained with aging. Which may sound like a boring topic . . . but was not at all. It's a book that gives your mind expansion, enables one's perspective to grow, and when you have come to the end of this audio book, you may well be better for it.

Amen and alleluia!

Glorious and important book, read by the author himself! Thank you for this illuminating message.

It’s lonely at the bottom.

To read this book half way, will keep you on the dark side longer than need be but one does have to filter through the beginnings in order to transcend to the now and to experience the infinite reality of one's being, God.

The "shadow", Richard Rohr explains comes into the second part of life, there is no exact science on when this second journey begins but when the time is ripe, you will know by your own experience. Richard Rohr says that if in your mid-fifties, you haven't reached this part of your life; you must look deeper into your consciousness.

I sense that this happens quite often in the first part of your life but you push it aside, not realizing that this is the road to inner growth. You look around you and see that many are just jumping over it, it (the shadow) is too constricting, asks you to let go of too many things, too many of your ways that have been working to this point in your life. It's not easy to take the road less traveled, so we hide behind our mask and muddle through life. But all is not lost, one can begin again and again and when finally one has exhausted all possibilities of dealing with his/her life, one starts the inner search again.

This is a real milestone, to begin again and accept the journey, accept that you don't have and never will have all the answers. Accept your imperfections; it will lead you through the "shadow" the dark night of the soul, beyond all your expectations. It’s like starting a “diet” over again and hoping that this time you will reach your goal and if you learn this lesson well, you will realize that it’s okay to miss that goal because you can start all over again at the next meal. (Easier said than done, say most of us full fledged dieters.)

This is the "real deal" even though you might think the deck is stacked against you, you need to trust the process.

At times it will be painful, move through it, don't bury the pain, and work through it. Your efforts will be rewarded and you will come out on "top of the heap." Not in a superior way but in a very humbling way because you have passed through the valley of "death", death to your own anxieties, your own doubts and fears. Peace, joy and understanding will follow you and each step will be easier as you progress through your inner darkness (shadow). It's a purification which leads you to a transformation.

Expect detours on your journey and don't compare your journey with someone else’s. You have enough going on in your own life to get through to the other side (part) of who you are becoming.

Don't forget to accept love from others when you are going through a dark place. This love that you receive, you will be able to give back a hundred fold. Do not be afraid to let yourself become vulnerable. This is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of hope.

When you reach the place of "unknowing", you have truly arrived at the second stage of your life's journey. This will take a lot of letting go, humility, courage and love of self and you will see your true self emerge like the butterfly coming out of its cocoon. St. Teresa of Avila.

Hostility and anger will still creep up but you will be more aware, let it come through but don’t act on it. Remove your mask, its okay to show your true colors. Burying your anger will only make it fester and you will eventually lose control of the situation.

We do however love to protect our "shadow" we hide behind it put on a mask and live out our true self unconsciously but all is not lost, if we pray for direction, the divine within will light the path. "A light shines on in the darkness, a light the darkness cannot overcome." John's Prologue 1:5.

Our "stage mask" is not our true self. In the first half of life we have done a pretty good job of manufacturing and constructing our “stage mask” in our minds. This is not bad, not evil, and not egocentric but it can and will die as all fiction must die.

Your shadow is what you refuse to see about yourself and what you do not want other's to see. The more you cultivate and protect your persona, the more "shadow" work you will have to do.

We set up traps, idolizing roles that people play. The minister, the doctor, the politician, the actor, the musician, the mother, the father. nice person, moral believer, the list is endless. The more you live in your "shadow land" the less capable you are of recognizing the persona you are trying to protect. It's a double blindness. a double edge sword, which is keeping you from seeing and living your best and deepest self. Matthew: 6:23.

When one denies the "shadow" self one idolizes the persona and you end up with an inflated ego.

If you can, begin to make friends with those who have a challenging message for you; you will begin to see some of your own "shadow".

Don't stay in your own prison within yourself, you will miss out on much needed wisdom and become self-satisfying, self-justifying. Once you create a story line, your inner story line with your emotional life, you set up an entrapment within. Don't go there, it quadruples. You become your own judge, attorney and jury.

You need to build a circle of friends. Searching for those few who are on the road less traveled, those very few who have played the game, followed the rules, played it out (acted it out) and have finally seen the light, trying to emerge out of the darkness. "Do not turn your back on your own, then your light shall break forth like the dawn. You are the light of the world." Isaiah 58: 7-10

Jesus chose his friends wisely. He did not choose those who had it all together, he didn’t choose those who were the most intelligent, he didn’t choose the Priests or the Pharisees. He chose simple people who were ready and willing to listen and Jesus challenged them and their lives were changed. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16.

Seems. Richard knew I needed this book

I listened every change I got. He described the thing I've found in my own life where I've asked the questions and had doubts about what I was taught in the early part of my Christian experience. He described the much deeper and more comfortable walk these days at a later point in life, looking at things from a different perspective but not wanting to change everyone who hasn't walked in my shoes. It was wonderfully refreshing and encouraging.

Loved it so much I bought the book

I loved this so much, it's spoke to me so deeply, that I decided to buy the book so that I could study it slowly and more prayerfully. The right book at the right time in my life. Thank you Richard Rohr. And, thank you, God.

Just what I needed

This book was recommended by my Pastor to help with a crisis I am going through. It was wonderful and spoke to my soul.

Amazing... could not stop listening!

This book is a game changer. My life is forever enriched. Thank you Mr. Rohr for blessing humanity with your life.

Mind blowing wisdom

My son introduced me to this author. After listening to one of Rohr's podcasts, I bought my son this audiobook, and he described it as full of "mind blowing wisdom." I am not a religious person, but am a seeker, and found this book refreshing and enlightening. I am amazed that this is written by a Catholic priest, given my perceptions of Catholicism. I will read more of Rohr's books as I continue to search for meaning in life.

Blessed beyond Belief

My life is transformed. Faith and hope and love. Blessed beyond all recognition. Thank you, Brother Richard, thank you.

Rohr Speaks My Heart

I'm definitely a 2nd Half Person & I found a knowing soul-guide in Richard Rohr!