US researcher and author Brene Brown says that the midlife crisis is when God or the universe grabs you and says, “stop fluffing around – use the gifts you were given!”
PICTURE: Karl Magnuson/Unsplash
It’s the point when many people do a values evaluation. Is working 80 hours a week on my career really worth time with my kids? Is money really the source of happiness? Is all this adolescent partying and behaviour really satisfying? When I’m gone will I have made a real difference – or will anyone care that I’m gone?
Pretty sobering stuff. Usually the values the world runs on are those pre-midlife crises. Such people find post-midlife values inconceivable? Who would sacrifice a promising career for children? Why would spirituality suddenly become important to you?
Don’t wait till midlife slaps you across the values to do a values evaluation.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
