After a long pause, the show is back - in a new shape.

Each month on How to Live, I read a couple of the short notes from my newsletter and some of the responses they stirred up.

This month, the two that started it all: "The Hum" - the quiet unease underneath a life that looks fine from the outside - and "Why Now," on why it tends to hit us at this particular stage of life. Plus some of the replies that came back.

Shownotes: https://howtolive.life/episode/105-the-hum

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After releasing an episode every second week since November 2021 - we’re taking a short break from How to Live.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with incredible guests, thinkers, founders, scientists, and leaders, all exploring the same question: how do we live a good life?

Now, it feels like the right moment to pause, reflect, and recharge, so we can come back in February with fresh stories and new insights for the next chapter.

While we take this short break, I wanted to leave you with one of the most relevant conversations from this year - an episode that resonated deeply with many listeners navigating uncertainty.

It’s about layoffs, and how to turn them into opportunities for clarity, renewal, and even growth.

So if you, or someone you know, is going through change or questioning what’s next, I hope this one brings some comfort and perspective.

Thank you for being part of this journey, for listening, sharing, and growing together.

Take care, and I’ll see you back here in February.

How to Live Newsletter One honest thought, every second Saturday. No spam. Subscribe here - https://newsletter.sharadlal.net

Get in touch connect@howtolivecompany.com

About Sharad Lal https://www.sharadlal.net/

Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharadlal24/

Reinvention for 23-year-olds with nothing to lose is relatively easy. At 40, it's brave. Here's how to do it well.

At 23, Nick Francis left the BBC, drove a Mini to Mongolia, and stumbled into building a creative business now in 9 countries. Back then, it didn't feel brave. No mortgage. No kids. Nothing to lose.

As Nick says: "If you quit your job in your 40s, with kids and responsibilities - that's brave."

Here's what struck me: midlife reinvention isn't about starting over. It's about starting better.

In your 40s, you're not building from zero. You have:

• Clarity about what you actually want (not what you think you should want)
• Skills that compound in unexpected ways
• Networks built on real relationships
• Resilience from surviving previous challenges

The 23-year-old has energy. The 40-something has intention.

Nick's line stuck with me: "We often overvalue the risk of doing something different, and undervalue the risk of continuing to do what we've always done."

If you're questioning your next chapter, you're not having a crisis. You're seeing an opening - an opening to thoughtfully design your next chapter.

This conversation is special because Nick not only shares deep wisdom on reinvention - he also acquired my company last year.

Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/102-building-a-business-with-heart-with-Nick-Francis

How to Live Newsletter One honest thought, every second Saturday. No spam. Subscribe here - https://newsletter.sharadlal.net

Get in touch connect@howtolivecompany.com

About Sharad Lal https://www.sharadlal.net/

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