Midlife Crisis for Career Women: a Quest for Identity
Midlife crisis is different for every woman. Some go through this stage with so much ease that they don’t even realise they’re on it. But for many, midlife crisis is a process that comes with plenty of challenges, emotional and physical.
Midlife Crisis = Quest for Midlife Identity
Gone are the days when women stayed in their houses to look after their children whilst doing the chores, at least in many countries especially the developed ones. Today, women’s life path is becoming close to that of men’s. They are more eager to leave their comfort zone and explore life in a more challenging way, changing career goals at almost every turn in their lifetime. Whilst there are still women who live in a traditional perspective, majority of women today are highly spirited, carefree and goal-oriented. They are in a continuous pursuit of their true potential – from being a mum to being a corporate employee, executive, CEO, until the owner of their own companies.
For some of them, midlife crisis means a midlife quest for identity. As they step into their 40s, 50s or even 60s, these women opt to change their career goals depending on their circumstances and desires. Whilst it is possible for women without careers to go through significant explorations as they age, it gets harder for career women. That’s because they face not only the stresses that naturally come along with midlife crisis, but also because these women tend to have an intense need to establish their sustainability, safety and status of their own. They know they are more than able. So when they get to the part where their expectations failed to materialise, the more midlife becomes difficult for them.
For smart goal-oriented women, the issue of midlife crisis is not really about the thought of losing their youth. It’s all about how great they have become. The problem is there’s no precise measurement for greatness so the chase for it becomes a continuous, life-long challenge.
Midlife crisis for career women can be harder than it seems. Having higher occupational status and education increases the propensity of midlife crisis because these things promote expectations for a higher quality of life and better handling of frustrations. Another thing – many career women in their late forties of thirties, are often exhausted by long hours of work and having to cope with the demands of their work and their families that they tend to lose focus and energy. This leads to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety disorder. According to the study by the Yankelovich Monitor, a US-based research group, today’s middle-aged women are more likely to say that life has become much too complicated or out of control than women in the previous generation. Also, the proportion of women who were searching to gain more control of their lives has risen from 60 to 69 per cent in the span of 15 years.
Dealing with Midlife Quest for Identity
Sacrificing happiness to become great could make life less enjoyable, and worse, miserable. Striving to be great is not bad. Our desire for success is hardwired in our brain. It serves as the fuel that makes us face challenges no matter how hard they are. But too much desire for greatness can lead to disappointment. As mentioned, there’s no precise scale for measuring greatness. Achieving something could lead to the desire to achieve more until dreams become very illusive already. So for all working women out there, carry on with your goals but don’t forget to step back a little from time to time and enjoy life just the way it is. As the old saying goes – happiness is a journey, not a destination.
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