Despite the fact the “Midlife Crisis” phenomena has been heavily investigated by psychologists and determined to be a complete myth, the world has clung to the idea ever since psychoanalyst Elliot Jaques first presented the concept back in 1965. But is there any truth to the Midlife Crisis theory or is the entire idea total fiction? We can help with this piece on Mid-Life Crisis for Men Over 50 – Fact or Fiction.
While the fabled midlife crisis phenomena is not an inevitable, it is not entirely unfounded. By the midlife stage, many men are confronted with the brevity of life and as a result feel compelled to throw all reservation and caution to the wind in favor of being reckless. Once men realize that life really is too short they might react in fear and set about aggressively acquiring any outstanding experience or possession they think will make them happy. In this sense, a midlife crisis is simply reaching the apex of an acquisition mode or mindset.
So then what should I expect in my 50s?
Humorist Will Rogers explained the Midlife Crisis phenomenon with what has since been coined the 20/40/60 Rule. Men in their 20s worry about people judging them. Men in their 40s stop caring about other people judging them. And men in their 60s realize nobody was judging them or paying all that much attention to them in the first place. In other words, a “midlife crisis” is simply the next step on the staircase of psychological maturation.
Around the midpoint of life, we all tend to realize the ways in which we may have fallen prey to the Hedonic Treadmill. We come to understand that there will always be some other promotion, car, house, or experience that entices our ambition. We begin to resonate with the fact that if the accomplishment is not connected to a deeply rooted value system, the satisfaction from the accomplishment is short lived. This awareness may be frightening at first because it forces us to reassess our core values and beliefs.
While there is no guarantee that a crisis of some sort will or will not befall you in your 50s, here are the most common challenges that will likely appear in a man’s midlife season and may trigger the male midlife crisis stages:
Midlife Challenge #1
Men in their 50s often find themselves sandwiched between caring for both aging parents and children. The psychological exhaustion from supporting elderly family members while simultaneously ensuring children get successfully launched into adulthood can understandably be very stressful and even emotional.
Midlife Challenge #2
Many men report experiencing a peak in workplace demands the decade leading up to their retirement. By the time men reach the midpoint of life, they are finally taking their seats at decision-making tables and are now accountable for juggling new realms of leadership accountability which can be very stressful.
Midlife Challenge #3
The 50s are a check-in point of life. It is a time when points and accomplishments are tallied up. It is a pivotal moment that demands reflection and can elicit emotions that may be hard to process, especially if you don’t feel as though you have accomplished as much as you’d hoped. Most importantly, as men reach this check-in point, they may come face to face with the concept of their own mortality.
Why having “so much to be grateful for” does not fix a crisis.
A midlife crisis is an internal war, so counting external blessings won’t always remedy the inner discontentment you feel. Some men may feel that their dissatisfaction with life is unwarranted and irrational which may make them feel guilty. Rest assured that what you are feeling is not a moral failing, rather it is a call to true happiness. It is a call to reassess and come to terms with the fact that the secret to happiness is not a new car, a new boat, a new motorcycle, hair plugs, a new house, or even a new love interest. The secret to happiness is reconciling your values and priorities in life with your own mortality.
The bottom line.
The concept of a midlife crisis is unfounded, unproven fiction that perpetuates an ageist stereotype. There is nothing necessarily crisis-inducing about the 50s. In fact most men report experiencing a form of personal life crisis in their 30s! The truth is that crisis can strike at any time and at any age, and experiencing a crisis in your 50s is no more or less common then experience a crisis at any other age. Each phase of life carries with it a unique set of challenges, and the midlife timeframe is no different.
Final Thoughts on Mid-Life Crisis for Men Over 50 – Fact or Fiction.
A midlife crisis in your 50s is not inevitable, however experiencing a crisis at any age can bring about a very positive transformation. In many ways, a personal crisis is a sign that you are reaching complete psychological maturity and are ready to abandon old ways of thinking that are no longer serving you. When a personal crisis is embraced there is a powerful opportunity to expand your mind and step into your full power and potential.
As always, we hope that you find worthwhile information here and can use the research in this blog to answer any questions on Mid-Life Crisis for Men Over 50 – Fact or Fiction. Want us to cover other self-help topics? Reach out to me directly through our Contact page or leave a comment below, we read each one! All the best ~ Glen.