Sometime between 40 and 55 the big questions surface for many: do I want this for the next 15 years? Was that all? It’s often called a “midlife crisis”, a dismissive label for something healthy: a stocktaking.
A review of your course
Up to midlife many follow a plan they adopted early, from parents, career, society. At some point it no longer fits the person they have become. The restlessness is the signal.
Adjust the course, don’t tear it down
The most common mistake is the either-or: throw it all away or endure it all. Usually the way lies in between, correcting the course in small steps: reshape a project, revive an old strength, redistribute time.
Three quiet questions
- What used to give me energy that I’ve lost sight of?
- What do I not want to be saying in ten years: “A shame, never tried it”?
- Which one small step fits this week?
How to begin
Take the restlessness seriously, but don’t make big decisions on impulse. First understand, then try things out in small experiments. More on this in the article on small experiments.
General self-help impulses, no substitute for therapy or medical or professional career advice. In crisis: helpline (Germany) 0800 111 0 111.