"This is not my beautiful house...
This is not my beautiful wife."
- Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime
Midlife Crisis or Awakening...
Discovering Your True Purpose
- Do you feel like you're on the wrong path?
- Have you realized you're working toward someone else's goals?
- Do you feel burned out, like you've been striving so hard, but not you're sure what for?
- Feel like you're not being your true self (maybe not even sure who that is)?
- Have you sacrificed your creativity and sense of wonder in order to be practical or reliable?
- Wondering if this is a Midlife Crisis?
We live in a culture that sells us on the idea that happiness can (and should) be attained through material success, staying youthful forever, having a perfect body, a perfect career, a perfect family.
Many of us accept this cultural ideal or paradigm, and we start down a path of striving, hard work, and sacrifice in the hope that someday it will pay off.
In the process of striving for that "someday" we miss a lot of todays. And we may open our eyes one day, to discover that everything we've worked so hard to achieve and attain is not at all what we want.
When this awareness hits us, it can feel like sacrilege. You may push the awareness out of your conscious mind - for a while. Loved ones (or the critical voice in your head) may admonish you to appreciate all you have, telling you, "Nothing is wrong... you should be grateful... others would feel blessed to have your life..."
Guilt doesn't help. If you've been feeling like you want more meaning, passion, joy and satisfaction (and it's not happening despite doing all the "right" things), then it may be time to find a safe place to:
- Allow yourself to feel unsatisfied without the burden of guilt
- Let that dissatisfaction motivate and guide you toward change
- Understand how cultural and familial expectations got you where you are and...
- How to let go of those expectations and set boundaries with those who still hold them
- Listen to the still small voice inside that knows where your true happiness lies
- Begin taking small, calculated risks toward creating the life you DO want
Is this a Midlife Crisis?
Who knows. I'm not sure the idea of midlife crisis is useful - especially if it's used to discount or belittle the awakening that is probably at the heart of your discomfort.
At the risk of sounding like a cliche, a crisis is often just the push we need to change direction. Change is hard, and sometimes we need to feel some discomfort to be willing to shift.
How Can Therapy Help Me Find Myself, My Life's Purpose?
Therapy provides a quiet space away from the "helpful advice" of others who may not be able to put their own fears and biases aside and really listen to you.
If past hurts or negative experiences have made it hard for you to follow your dreams or believe in yourself, then therapy provides a place to heal.
If you're needing practical, hands-on activities to jump-start your brain, help you focus, set goals and take steps toward reaching them, we can help with that too.
If you'd like to work from a more spiritual approach, we can also incorporate manifesting techniques like:
- guided visualization
- hypnosis
- vision boards
Find out if therapy can help you find meaning, purpose and passion. You can call for a free 30-minute consultation: (925)335-6441 or begin the scheduling process online by clicking here: Schedule Consultation
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