Meditation and Midlife Crisis

Meditation and midlife crisis should go hand in hand, and the right techniques can help to nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a catastrophe.

The ups and downs of a midlife crisis can be experienced by anyone from thirty to sixty years old, and it can be a time of sudden denial about your age and deep reflection about life choices and achievements.  Many people don't even give consideration to aging until the predicament arises, and, often, the sudden feeling of emergency results in behavior that is completely contrary to their usual character.  Meditation and midlife crisis should definitely therefore go hand in hand.

Everyone has probably heard some stories about funny things people can do as a result of a midlife crisis:  Spontaneously buy a Harley Davidson, sky diving or deep see diving, start vigorous exercise routines, buy convertibles, and of course probably the most disastrous, have an affair with someone much younger than themselves.  If the driving force behind making these decisions is the desire to feel young again or relive your youth, you are probably experiencing a midlife crisis.  To help you relax about growing older gracefully and to heal past hurts you can use meditation, and midlife crisis is not something to be ashamed of, so talk to your friends and family.  The worst thing you can do is try to pretend you are not feeling anxious about growing older, so instead take time out from daily duties to sit in contemplation about what you really want the rest of your life to be.

The term midlife crisis tends to be thought of as being associated with more men than women. The reason for this is because men tend to have difficulty expressing there emotions and instead find another way to release them.  Women on the other hand will talk to everyone they know with much deliberation about how they have been feeling and what they have been thinking, so often the most drastic action they take is a change in hairstyle or over-seas travel.  That is not to say there aren't members of both sexes who experience midlife crisis.

Regular practice of meditation creates inner peace and a sense of well-being. When you are calm and grounded and not stressed and irritable you simply go with the flow and situations that once bothered you become insignificant. When you enjoy the benefits of meditation I believe you will not need to experience a midlife crises because meditation creates a balance within you both mentally and physically. I cannot imagine that you will be too concerned with getting older, you will probably be more centered with life and wiser.

Broken marriage, upset children, rejected by someone younger and possibly wasted money trying to relive your youth could certainly be avoided through meditation.  Do not underestimate the power of meditation to keep you connected to the true inner you who knows what you really want from life. 

This is not to say midlife crisis is a negative experience for everyone, and some people make some important life changes and decisions under the extra pressure.  Women very often begin new business ventures or leave unhappy marriages because there children have left home and they realize midlife has come upon them.  Men too can leave unhappy jobs and start working for themselves or make changes in the way they choose to communicate with those they love. When handled the right way, the energy around this time can be channeled in a positive direction.  With regular and deep meditation and midlife crisis rumination, you can begin to enjoy many wonderful years. Hence the saying ; Life begins at forty.

By Jack McCoy