Perhaps it hits you just when you think you have life figured out. You wake up in midlife to only to discover that the map of life that has guided you this far no longer leads you anyplace—or at least no place that you'd care to go.
In an effort to get things back to a normal footing, you might go about your business, pretending nothing has changed. But, you cannot fool yourself. While not much else may be clear, one thing is certain: your former way of approaching life no longer satisfies you and with that knowing, you feel adrift and disoriented about the alternatives.
Of course you wonder if you've lost your mind, and whether you'll get back on the old path as quickly as you left it. But, actually, it's not really that you've lost anything, rather that you are now preoccupied with discovering your true self.
Midlife is a perplexing time to say the least. It presents everyone, no matter their profession, income, gender or other preferences, with the most simple, yet complex question of their lives: Who are you meant to be?
In the work arena, the midlife quest can wreak havoc on what was formerly an acceptable and rewarding career path. It is said that the challenge in our early adult years is to establish an identity that is based on skills, competencies and ego-boosting accomplishments. That all tends to change as we enter into the second half of our lives and begin to come to grips with our mortality.
Recognizing that you no longer have all the time in the world to do whatever you might like might, is sobering to say the least. For many of us, this realization, coupled with jarring world events like terrorist attacks and tsunamis, makes a compelling case for aligning our lives with what matters most.
On my website, I've outlined eight steps to guide you through midlife and its compelling call to change, make a greater contribution to the world, or explore interests and talents that have been forgotten or neglected.
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Barbara is now accepting applications for her Annual Women's Retreat in Provence scheduled for September 23-29. For more info go to: www.yourprovenceretreat.com
Hi Barbara,
We need to perhaps cross promo our work. I have just returned from my annual Middleearthadventure with 8 midlife women in New Zealand (from US, Australia, and NZ) Was just amazing and humbling at the same time.
All the best
Jenn
Would love to learn more about your work in New Zealand, Jenn. Thanks for writing!
Posted by Barbara
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