How men after 50 can use ritual to release the past, move beyond the midlife crisis, and step boldly into a new chapter.

Midlife isn’t just a crisis. It’s a crossroads. And for men after 50, one of the most powerful ways to move forward is through ritual. In this episode of Good Grief, John Doe, experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl explains why the midlife man needs symbolic moments to close one chapter and begin another.

You’ll learn simple but meaningful rituals — from burning old memories, to creating playlists, to revisiting important places — that help you honor identity loss, release the past, and reclaim authorship of your life.

If you’ve felt stuck in a so-called “midlife crisis” — drifting, restless, or disconnected — this practice can spark midlife transformation and give you the clarity, closure, and courage you need for a true midlife reinvention.

👉 Discover how ritual helps men after 50:

• Let go of outdated identities
• Mark the shift from “who I was” to “who I’m becoming”
• Reinvent purpose with meaning and momentum

This is Part 3 of the Good Grief, John Doe mini-course — designed to help midlife men name their losses, reconnect with their bodies, and begin their journey of personal reinvention.

Topics in this Episode

• Ritualize the Transition from Old to New Identities  (1:17 )
• Choose One of These Ritual Ideas (1:31 )
• Hear My Personal Example of Plan an Event (2:48 )
• Decide What Event Will You Plan (5:33 )

Healing Links

28-Day Challenge: Resurrection Camp

Supporting Links

Evidence-Based Article: Psychological Benefits of Ritual
Anthropological Research: Van Gennep's Rites of Passage Theory
Clinical Research: The Psychology of Rituals
Professional Article: Midlifers Need a Rite of Passage

Next Episode: Men After 50: 5 Signs Your Midlife Crisis is Really Grief in Disguise (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 1)

About the Host

Nelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention.