Understanding the Mid-Life Crisis: Fact or Fiction?

Showing up in a fancy new car, deciding to start a new career, throwing out an entire wardrobe and staring over or ending a marriage of over twenty years, these all seem to be connected what society calls a ‘mid-life crisis.’ Is the mid-life crisis fact or fiction? Mid-life is the life span between the ages of 35 and 65 years old and as people age, there are biological and physiological gains and losses (Tillery 2014). When people enter into the middle adulthood, they have usually settled into family and carrier life, their knowledge base has grown and they are usually particularly healthy (Tillery 2014). However, as adults progress through this life-stage, a crisis can occur; which is the result of biological and physiological changes, an

The crisis can be brought on as the result of biological and psychological changes, such as disease or the lack of youthful adventure. In addition, many adults come into mid-life having not realized their childhood dream and find themselves struggling with the transition to complete any dream. What is more, mid-life crisis is connected to ones ability to re-establish meaning and purpose in life that is greater than self-fulfillment, such providing a legacy of their children. In essence, a mid-life crisis can be a very real season in the life of an adult where they aim to transition form young adulthood to late adulthood. Yet as Yana Weaver (2009) writes, “Reflection and re-evaluation of one’s accomplishments does not have to be seen necessarily as a time of crisis and negative experience.” Therefore, middle-aged adults do not have to fear a mid-life crisis, but rather see it as a season to refocus and choose to finish life strong. An excellent example of this would be from the life of Solomon in the Bible. Solomon wrote his book of Ecclesiastes about the meaning and purpose of life. After searching for it all and having it all, he concluded it is all “meaningless, like chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Perhaps this is what many mid-lifers feel. But Solomon passes on his wisdom to the future generation when he says, “Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Long before any psychologist tried to figure out mid-life, Solomon knew that finishing strong was so important and giving one’s life for others would be the most fulfilling joy one could experience. Therefore, all adults would do well to decide in mid-life what they will do to finish strong and pour into future