Girl, Turn That Midlife Crisis Into An Opportunity For Growth
As you ease into your new chapter, several areas in your life can morph into a full-blown midlife crisis. The stale and stagnant relationship crisis is one of the most commonly talked about. When you are dissatisfied or fed up with your relationship, you are ready to do things you thought would never enter your mind. You may think of leaving without warning or trying to find what you are missing with your person by getting involved with another.
Another touchy area is that you are getting older and can do nothing to stop that. It's scary, and there is the possibility of depression creeping in because you don't like what you see in the mirror. You realize your youth is far behind you, and things look different. Getting older sometimes makes you look back at old regrets and wish you had done more with your life. You might also experience anxious thoughts and feelings about the years you may have (or not) left ahead of you.
Let's not forget about the midlife crisis brought on by working a job you are not satisfied with. You might feel like you have just been going through the motions to get by. But maybe you're tired of just getting by. When all these new feelings come crashing down on you, they can feel heavy, like you will never get from under them. The best thing you can do is face them head-on to bring the healing you need.
The relationship crisis can be a time to reinvent yourself and help your partner do the same. You can seek counseling or try to spice things up by trying new adventures, trips, dates, etc. But, if that's not an option, and you are ready to move on, then you should. That's self-preservation, and it's what's important here. Because at the end of the day, you have to live with that decision. You can also do specific things at home to heal and reinvent. Sit down and talk with your partner about whether you decide to stay. You must agree to remain neutral while discussing the good and the bad of your relationship and see if you guys can come together and repair your union. Try rebuilding yourselves by doing couples yoga, which can help deepen your physical and mental bond. There is also the idea of mindful exercises to help you heal your relationship.
When your midlife crisis concerns aging, consider changing your diet and adding exercise programs to your daily routine. This will help engage your body and create the atmosphere for developing a positive mindset. Part of the aging aspect of your midlife crisis could be you thinking that you don't have much time left to start a new life. I'm here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. It's never too late to be what you have always wanted to be or do things you've always wanted to do. It's simply a matter of changing your thoughts about yourself and your life and taking action. In this day and age, you can be anything you want if you put in the work.
I worked for over 20 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant, and there was a time when I thought it was all I could do with myself. But, once I decided I was ready to change and started working on myself, opportunities opened up. And as much as I loved what I did, I wasn't satisfied with getting the bare minimum out of my life. My journey to reinvention started when I shared a part of my story in my first anthology. That catalyst shot me headfirst into entrepreneurship and a world I had only dreamed about three years ago. Fast forward to today, and I have a business and brand I am proud of. But I promise you it's not too late.
Remember that the past is the past, and leave it there. Life at fifty and beyond can be filled with a great new beginning, and your next half has the potential to be your best half. You have to be ready to go out there and get it!