Am I Having a Mid-Life Crisis?

Perhaps it is the post-pandemic era, or return to office, or the current landscape of layoffs. Maybe it’s a season of life that has existed for generations or the current pace of our modern work world and technology. Whatever the root cause, we are having deep conversations on life and career exploration with our clients - like, A LOT.

Partly this can be attributed to adult development theory, and our need to continue to grow and question, and advance as we age. As we move through our years, lived experiences, encounters, and events shape our trajectory. There tends to be a mid-life review and reckoning. Am I on the right path? If not, how did I get here? What’s bringing me to this question and exploration now? And where do I want to go?

Our executive brain wants answers! But as stated in the above podcast, perhaps this time is more about exploration, not explanation, more grace for space and curiosity. Perhaps the pandemic shook up the status quo and in the best way possible, is inviting us to reconsider what is possible. How do we best live in alignment with our current values? What might need to shift? What if we bucked the status quo? 

Perhaps, then, this is not a crisis, but rather an invitation and an unfolding to next.

(Curious about Adult Development Theory? Check out this article that shares background on the theory. It’s part of a 5 part series by this author.)