What’s wrong with having a midlife crisis?

A midlife crisis might just be the call you need to answer.

At a party recently, a group of friends talked about an acquaintance who was planning on climbing our local mountain, Mt Rainier. She’s turning fifty and wanted to mark this milestone in her life. The talk was of the training she was doing to prepare, taking time away from her family at weekends, and then someone asked, “Is she having a midlife crisis?” I thought quietly to myself, so what if she is? As long as she hears the call for change and follows it, won’t all around her be happier?

What have you put on the back burner?

In the earlier part of our lives, we feel pressured to conform to the social norms expected of us, behaving in a certain way, portraying a specific persona. We study, launch our careers, get married, and have a family while putting certain aspects of ourselves away to accomplish these early life goals better. Perhaps you had a beloved sports car that had to be sold and replaced with a minivan, or an unexpected pregnancy happened before you had accomplished what you had planned, such as finishing at college or traveling.

We feel pressured to conform to the social norms expected of us in the early part of our lives, behaving in a certain way, portraying a specific persona.

Georgie Coote

Listening to your inner voice

Now at midlife, perhaps in your late 30’s, 40’s or 50’s there is a voice inside urging you to do something you have always wanted to do. Do you listen to the voice and make plans to accomplish what you need to, or do you ignore it, saying it’s not the right time and suppress the urge? Perhaps your body starts having physical symptoms such as headaches or unexplained anxiety; your psyche is shouting louder, trying to make you listen.

You might find taking that first step towards a change hard. It’s hard stepping out of your comfort zone, that place where you feel safe and secure, but if you do the rewards are huge!

Is it a midlife crisis?

So, is it a midlife crisis?  It can be, but is that a bad thing? Midlife is a time of change, but I like to think of it more as a transition time.  A knowing that what went before does not work for you now, but not knowing what is to come. Does this mean you have to shed your previous life entirely and start a new one?  No, not necessarily, but identifying what needs to change and working towards that leads to a feeling of wellbeing and fulfillment.

Want to make a change but don’t know where to start?  Let’s chat and find out how I can help.