Mid Life – The Crisis or Is It?
Mid Life-The Crisis or Is it? by Max Roberts
Midlife transition is a natural stage that happens to many of us usually around age 40 or beyond. Consistent , nagging doubts and regrets about yourself may appear, encouraging a set of dramatic, irrational events that lead ultimately to great change.
A person experiencing midlife symptoms will ask: Is this all there is? Am I a failure? Things always went smooth for me before! Why is this happening to me now?
According to Psychology Today, symptoms and behaviors during midlife crisis can range from mild to severe, including:
•Discontentment or boredom with life or with the lifestyle (including people and things) that have provided fulfillment for a long time
•Feeling restless and wanting to do something completely different
•Questioning decisions made years earlier and the meaning of life
•Confusion about who you are or where your life is going
•Daydreaming
•Irritability, unexpected anger
•Persistent sadness
•Acting on alcohol, drug, food, or other compulsions
•Greatly decreased or increased sexual desire
•Sexual affairs, especially with someone much younger
•Greatly decreased or increased ambition.
These feelings at midlife can occur naturally or result from some significant events such as a loss or change—such as a relationship ending, job loss or the death of a parent or a health scare.They may suddenly realize they have lived half of their life and begin to question if this is how they want to live the rest. Coming to terms with such loss or change can be difficult enough, but when it is complicated by a midlife transition, this makes the problem two-fold.
Coping through that loss, one will feel that they have passed great obstacles and can handle more difficult or challenging situations in the future. Proper diet, exercise, and therapy may minimize that loss.
Transitioning thru midlife is the other challenge. First , allow yourself sometime to slow down and reflect on all the recent events. Congratulate yourself for handling the loss . There is a grieving process that comes with that and you have come out of it as a fighter.
A midlife crisis does not have to be a crisis but a period of renewal.
According to Marianne Williamson, “ middle age need not be seen as a turning point to death. It can be seen as a magical turning point to life as we’ve never known it, if we allow ourselves the power of an independent imagination.”
Now , it is time for you to be creative and to think outside the box. It can be painful at first and scary but it can be your greatest opportunity for having the life you want and to gain a sense of peace if you let it happen. Acceptance of yourself and your age is the foundation for your growth. You need to keep moving and aging forward. Sadly, some people think it is just easier to agonize over the past and play the blame game-blaming others or their self. Who has time for that? It is time to renew yourself. Set some goals that you want to accomplish on a personal level. Start small and challenge yourself. Create a list or journal if that would help. Follow up on your progress. You need to ask yourself, Don’t you deserve it? I think you do! It is time to renew your life.
