Your Spiritual Calling Is Lifelong Part 3: Midlife

We often describe midlife as a time of crisis. Stereotypes of the midlife crisis are common in our culture. The husband abandoning his family for a younger partner, or the mother who is angry over giving up her own goals for her family are two common themes. Despite the stereotypes, midlife is a great opportunity for both renewing and redefining your spiritual calling.

As midlife occurs before your final stage of life, it becomes a period of reflection regarding your past accomplishments, regrets, and future death. Self-reflection results in greater dedication to care, nurture, and the desire to mentor those around you. The negative side of this deep reflection is a withdraw from the world and your spiritual calling. This withdrawal results in increased self-centeredness. You put your needs and concerns above those around you. This deep selfishness leads to losses in personal productivity, poor relationships with others, and increased isolation.