A midlife crisis could be anything. It could be life-changing and dramatic, or just provide you with some confidence to change things. You may struggle with this period of your life and feel depressed. Or you could take the positives out of the situation and turn things to your advantage. I like the idea of positivity.
It gives you a new sense of growth and change, and in reality, everyday is a chance to be a better version of yourself, am I right? You see a midlife crisis doesn’t have to be scary or a process in your life that becomes inconvenient, you just need to be able to tackle the urges and channel the energy in the right way.. I think many people will go through a stage like this in their lives at some point.
It’s a time for reflection. A time when confidence maybe at its highest to make some changes, or perhaps even at its lowest as you try to come to terms with inner demons. Or maybe your self-esteem is at its lowest highlighting changes to make things better for your future or at a high point where you feel better than ever or in the best shape of your life. I thought it would be a good idea to share some positivity on some of the most common things to happen during a midlife crisis.
I hope it helps you to see how this time of your life could be amazing.
Questioning yourself constantly
Do you find yourself wondering whether this is it? Is this what life is all about? Are you asking yourself why you are doing things? Are you wondering where your identity is? All these questions are completely valid and need addressing. Of course, life isn’t rosy all the time. But this is where you need to take some time for yourself and evaluate everything. What is causing you to feel like this?
Are you in an unhappy relationship? Is it your job and career that’s causing you to wonder what life is all about? Find out the issues and then sort them. The great news is that addressing these things are going to help you lead a more happy life in the future. It may mean a few unpleasant conversations. Or taking a good long hard look at yourself. But it will be worth it. If you find that it is your career that needs addressing why not use this sense of change to make some bigger changes in your life i this area?
It could be that you think about home learning, trying out different programs and seeing where it takes you. Maybe you like the idea of focusing your career, especially if you work in a digital world, and take on things like an Online MBA in Marketing from Redlands University. Or maybe you want a completely different career and choose something like administration, business management, accounting, nursing, healthcare, it could be anything.
Take the time to really think about where your passions and skills are. At this stage in your life you have experience on your side to help. In terms of other areas, maybe now is the time to start thinking about changes such as your relationships, your friendships, where you live, how you spend your time.
A sudden urge to change the way you look
Do you feel the need to change how you look? Is it just your hair? Maybe you want to cut it all off or add extensions. Maybe change the color completely. The urge may not stop with just your hair. Perhaps it’s your looks. Maybe you want to consider surgery. I don’t know. Whatever it is you have the urge to do, use the confidence you have to go out and do it. What have you got to lose? Hair will grow back. You could always change back to your natural color. I admit surgery needs careful consideration and should be something you fully want to do.
But now’s the time to embrace your individuality and style. Heck, even create a whole new style. Things like a change in hair cut or color can boost your confidence no end. A sudden boost of confidence can have a great effect on other parts of your life to. You may feel better about your relationship, perhaps more attractive to your partner. You might have some extra confidence to stand up for yourself in the workplace.
Or put yourself forward for projects and new experiences. It can only be a good thing, so go for it.
Do these urges cut deeper than change?
The truth of the matter is you need to take some time to look back at your ife and figure out exactly what may have caused this uncertainty in your life. I get it, life isn’t always going to be plain sailing and there will come a time where things will be a little difficult. We all go through financial pickles, career upsets, friendships and relationships breaking down, but are these the cause of your feelings for such definite change?
Maybe there are underlying issues that have been there for some time, anxiety and stress coming out in regards or situations that actually stem way back to your early twenties or your youth even. Therapy and talking it through can actually be a great way to muster up the difference between the urge and actual want and need for change. It could be that talking it through helps you to make this time of your life a more positive experience, and to help you make lasting changes that will benefit you now and in your future. We only get one life, we need to live it.
Comparing yourself to others
Finally, do you sit and compare yourself to others? Do you look at successful friends and wonder where you went wrong?
Maybe you have just been feeling particularly low and wonder how you will get through. What you have to do is take a step back and realize you are an individual. You are you. There is no one else that does it better. So embrace that. I think it is only natural to compare yourself to others. In fact, it can generate a bit of a competitive spirit within you.
A healthy dose of competitiveness can be a good thing. But don’t let it turn to jealousy.
Being jealous is not an attractive quality. Embrace yourself as an individual. The celebrate the success of others.
It isn’t easy to overcome because sometimes you can feel so rubbish about yourself. The issue we have is that we are constantly surrounded by times where we can compare ourselves. You only need to log into your Facebook account or your Instagram feed to see people sharing the best bits of their lives, and this is where the comparison can be thief of joy.
However, you have to remember that we see scrolling through our phones and iPads is just a highlight feed of someone’s day and someone’s life. Instead, just focus on your highlights as well. Look at what you have gone through and look how far YOU have come.
There is no story quite like yours.
Only you have the power to change things. You could wallow in self-pity, or you could do something about it. A midlife crisis doesn’t have to be a dark period of your life; it could be the turning point to take you on to bigger and better things.