| Do women go through the same midlife crisis as men? | | | | American women alone who are between the ages |
| Just what does a midlife crisis look like for women, | | | | of 40 and 60 who are forcing this new paradigm. |
| anyway? Is it the use of botox, a major trip to Costa | | | | In fact, the very word crisis is being removed from our |
| Rica to get a secret face-lift or tummy tuck? Is it a | | | | collective consciousness and vocabulary. It is entirely |
| new purchase like a little red car, or a whole new | | | | the wrong word for this generation's experience. |
| wardrobe? Or perhaps, it's the start of an addiction, an | | | | Unlike our mothers or the men in our lives, we are |
| overdose, an affair, a move that represents a | | | | about creating a whole new model for what midlife |
| geographic cure? Any or none of the above? | | | | looks like. The most profound difference found by |
| The Developmental Cycles | | | | researchers in the attitude of men and women at |
| Life is about constant change. When we look at | | | | middle age is that women are twice as hopeful about |
| developmental theories, or just look at our lives, we | | | | the future. Women are now learning to have less of a |
| notice how we move from babyhood to childhood. | | | | challenge with hormones raging because of the |
| We escape the awkwardness of our teen years and | | | | newest research and openness to talk about such |
| become adult women. And at around the age of forty, | | | | issues by people like Suzanne Somers and Oprah |
| we are ready for a new transformation that doesn't | | | | herself! The Change of Life is now seen, not as a |
| have a clear label, but resembles the emergence of a | | | | disruption but as a welcome friend. (pardon the pun.) |
| butterfly. Everyone knows that that emergence looks | | | | The New Meaning Emerging |
| quite traumatic and even treacherous. The change can | | | | Menopause is now being seen in its totality, as a time |
| be born of sorrow or stress. But, it is also quite clear to | | | | that is meant for spiritual and even psychic growth. |
| those of us who are the supporters of personal | | | | When women today go through menopause, |
| reinvention, that this time itself is actually a major, if | | | | sometimes accompanied by divorce or failing health, |
| unexpected, gift. Women, especially, in the baby | | | | they seem to turn inward and have what can truly be |
| boomer years, are uncovering a sense of discovery | | | | called a spiritual awakening. It becomes a time to ask |
| and truly turning what once was looked on crisis as | | | | more cosmic questions, not the least of which is, who |
| major stepping stones to new opportunity. | | | | am I really? And what am I being called to be and do in |
| Baby Boomer women have been blessed to have | | | | this next part of my life? Now that the nest is empty |
| higher incomes, better education and the unique | | | | and perhaps even the aging parents are gone, women |
| experience of juggling multiple roles, so they are finding | | | | are finding time to rethink their own priorities and |
| that there has never been a better time to have a | | | | passions. What I have found to be true for most of |
| midlife crisis than now. | | | | the clients and friends in this age bracket, is that |
| The Change about "The Change" | | | | answering that question often leads to a life of true |
| The national conversation around midlife is in the midst | | | | service - one that does not exclude the self but truly |
| of a major change It's truly time to change the way | | | | incorporates all the learning and wisdom that has been |
| the world views midlife. There are about 43 million | | | | accumulated in the first half of life. |