Embracing Change: Thriving in Midlife Transitions

I am currently in the midlife stage of family life. My children are grown – out of college, in their established careers, having children, and in the beginnings of their family lives.

I have pondered on what my current situation is like. I no longer clean up their messes or do loads of laundry that take two days. I am really just trying to figure out where I belong now. The house is quiet most days, and I wonder where I go from here. I am not at the beginning stage of empty nest – in fact, I’ve been here for some time now. I’ve seen a need in my own life to make changes that I didn’t necessarily feel that I could before having my children grown and out on their own. My husband and I travel more and spend time with our grandchildren. And we are back to being just the two of us and navigating our relationship in this stage of life – it is different than when we first were married.

Why, when we reach this stage of life, do we feel a little hollow? Life has been rich and robust, and now it is more like a small stream rather than a raging river. Are any of you in the same place? What is refreshing about this stage of your life? What seems to be challenging you more?

Sometimes in our midlife, we can experience inner struggles marked by transition, emotional turmoil, and even some external pressures. We may feel a bit dissatisfied with our lives and desire change.

What are some areas of life in which you feel some inner struggles in midlife? Here are a few you may identify with:

*Restlessness – needing changes to your career, where you live, and other things that may not be what they used to be.

*Identity – who are you today vs who you were just a few years ago? This is a huge question for many in midlife.

*Physical changes – Men and women go through physical changes as the aging process continues.

*External pressures – We all feel pressure in societal expectations, financial concerns, and relationship challenges – in marital and parent/child relationships.

Not all of us go through a midlife crisis, yet this time of life does get our brains and bodies seeking something different, something to help us feel growth and progress in our lives. If you have felt any of what I have described, you are not alone. Our midlife can be a time of robust growth. It can be a time to reinvent ourselves, to become rejuvenated. We can awaken dreams we may have put on a shelf for a time and bring them back to life. It may be a time of resurgence in our relationships and can be a time of powerful potential if we can embrace the changes this time of life puts in our path. We can learn to prioritize self-care, re-evaluate our priorities, embrace change, and learn to be more open in our communication.

I have found this time to be one of the most fulfilling and generative in my own life.

If you desire to foster your own thriving and flourishing at this time in your life, coaching is an option for opening your mind and heart to the changes that can be available as you navigate midlife.