The Midlife Call, The Twin Sister Of Menopause

Midlife Myths & Realities: Andrea M. Slominski, Ph.D.

There’s been a lot of talk recently on social media and from celebrities on their menopause journeys.

This is terrific because it’s starting to bring menopause out of the closet and into cultural conversation. It allows women to compare their experiences to those of other women. It encourages all of us to research and find out what we need to know to make our menopause journey as smooth as possible.

However, one thing that isn’t talked about as often is the midlife shift for women. 

“Sometimes, your midlife call can appear as you grapple, for the first time, with your mortality.”

Menopause Experience:

Just like menopause, midlife begins at different times for different women. Your midlife experience will be just as individual as your menopause experience. Carl Jung described the pre-ordained midlife shift in the human psyche as the time when we are called to abandon the outer world of accomplishment and instead take a dive deep into the inner world of psyche, soul, and spirit.

The Midlife Call:

What is this midlife call? Sometimes, your midlife call can appear as you grapple, for the first time, with your mortality. You may realize, shockingly, that you have more years behind you than ahead of you. You may see, for the first time, that you don’t have the option of endless do-overs anymore.

Midlife questions can pop up, such as, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?” or “Did I miss something?” Your life that felt good last week can feel like a pair of too-tight shoes this week. You can suddenly feel regrets over the choices you made and the choices you didn’t make. 

On top of all of this, you’ll go through the menopause and midlife shifts at the same time. Your changing hormonal cascade within the menopause shift can affect and exacerbate the feelings that arise from the midlife shift.

“Midlife can lead you to a complete reorientation of your purpose, meaning, and belonging.”

Your Regency Years:

Midlife can lead you to a complete reorientation of your purpose, meaning, and belonging. You can take advantage of this midlife call to consider who you want to be in your Regency years. You are one of the amazing women who have the opportunity to live another 20 or 30 years past menopause. Your midlife shift is your golden opportunity to decide what is important to you now who do you want to become and what do you want to do in the next 30 years.

Your midlife shift is your opportunity to reassess everything, including your work, relationships, physical and mental health care, physical activity, nutrition, sleep routine, leisure activities, relationships, how you can give back to the collective, and your legacy.

In 1900, most women were facing the end of their lives by their late 40s to mid-50s. I’m cheering you on, hoping that you will make the most of your Regency Years, that you will join the 87 million other US women who will be over forty-five by 2030 and claim your wisdom, experience, and economic, political, and cultural power to change not only your life but the world.

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