How men over 50 can use ritual to release the past and step boldly into a new chapter.

Midlife isn’t just a crisis. It’s a crossroads. And for men over 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 shares why men need symbolic moments to close one chapter and begin another.

Learn simple but powerful rituals — from burning old memories to creating playlists or revisiting meaningful places — that help you honor identity loss, release the past, and reclaim authorship of your life.

If you’ve felt stuck in midlife, drifting without direction, this practice can give you clarity, closure, and courage.

👉 Discover how ritual helps men over 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• Let go of outdated identities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 re-imagine their future.

Topics in this Episode

• The Ritual of Transition from Old to New Identities. (1:17)
• A Few Ritual Ideas for You (1:31)
• My Personal Example of Plan an Event (2:48)
• 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 Over 50: 5 Signs Your Midlife Funk 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 reclaim identity and reinvent themselves through his proprietary approaches, including Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab.