Mid-Life Crisis

An article today in the NY Times called "Crisis? Maybe He's a Narcissistic Jerk" talks about how people (usually men) use the term "mid-life crisis" to justify otherwise inexcusable behavior.

While it's true that it's a convenient excuse to "blame it on the mid-life crisis," I do think that many people find themselves in this period of questioning, introspection, and frustration. When it happens entirely depends on the person. One of these periods hit me a year ago when I was at a crossroads with my career and relationship, and am thankful for it. Even though it wasn't a mid-life crisis, it definitely helped me analyze what I really wanted out of life.

I think it's a natural part of growing and evolving as a person, and am surprised that it takes people until mid-life to stop and think about these things. Maybe the frustration comes it seems too late to change course, so blips like affairs or sports cars become a temporary distraction and source of excitement. Maybe if these people spent a little more time earlier on in their life, they'd be more content with how things have turned out.

Do you think it's better to have a big meltdown in mid-life because you wake up one day and realize that you're not happy, or take some time now to figure out what you really want and how to get there?

I believe it's better to have a minor quarter-life crisis when you still have time to change the major things in your life, instead of getting burdened with the choices you made (or didn't make) in your late 20s and early 30s.

Avoid a future mid-life crisis - www.overachievercoach.com