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Why So Many of Us Experience a Midlife Crisis
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5
Key Ideas
There is increasing evidence that happiness through adulthood is U-shaped.
Life satisfaction falls in our 20s and 30s, then hitting a low in our late 40s before increasing until our 80s....
That midlife slump (not to be confused with a midlife crisis) is often nothing - just a natural transition due to the passing of time.
Those likely to notice it are people that seem to have everything going for them; they're achieving their goals, and nothing much changed, yet they feel less satisfied than they expected and think there must be something wrong with their lives.
According to a study by economists, the U-curve is generally noticed at age 46. It tends to appear in wealthier countries.
However, some economists and psychologists factor in the possibility that those who become happier in the studies are the same people who are content in their early years.
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Key Ideas
The disappointment with life is often the difference between our expectations for ourselves and what life actually holds for us.
According to research, people's happiness forms a U shape ove...
People’s happiness is the lowest around the ages of 47 to 49. The dip in happiness is the same everywhere: In America, Germany, Thailand, Pakistan, even in countries with a lower life expectancy.
The happiness dip may have to do with getting real - finding that our dreams are not going to happen. That can be a painful reality check.
If we don't use the midlife self-reflection positively, we may become disillusioned and make rash decisions or end relationships that can be damaging to our well-being.
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Key Ideas
Concepts of middle age change as we get older. People aged over 60 recalled their midlife crisis at 53, while those in their 40s dated theirs to 38.
It appears that there are no distinct midlife crises, but rather crises that occur from time to time.