Falling Upward, Revised and Updated: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

On the journey of life, many of us grow up believing that our life purpose is to achieve, succeed, and climb ever higher. When we reach midlife - having accomplished our goals or discovered their limits - it can feel as though there is nowhere left to go but down. In Falling Upward, Richard Rohr invites readers to see this moment not as an ending, but as a profound new beginning. Drawing on psychology, mythology, poetry, and the wisdom of Christian spirituality, Rohr explores what he calls the two halves of life - and why the struggles, failures, and losses of the first half are often the very doorway into deeper meaning. As we enter the second half of life, we are forced to confront our mistakes, disappointments, and suffering. Rohr shows how these experiences, rather than being obstacles, can become gifts - shaping compassion, wisdom, and spiritual depth. This revised edition updates Rohr's insights for a world marked by uncertainty, suffering, and conflict, offering practical guidance on how "getting it wrong" can lead us toward wholeness, transformation, and joy.