Infants, children, adolescents and young adults are in regular contact with individuals in successive phases of growth above them. Those in one phase can see the obvious greater qualities and capabilities of their superiors, and the latter in the next phase immediately above are more closely relevant. With plenty of various role models around, the striving wannabees usually gain incentive easily. Past the age of about 40 years, however, the otherwise expanding personal horizon may grind to a halt. Popular examples of what is presumably the next desirable phase of growth, say perhaps the wealthy jet set, are not a regular part of life for the majority. Some will rise within a few more ranks of successful seniority, but many others will endure the doldrums of the dead end plateau for the remainder of life. Some may find refuge in religious commitment, and some may find purpose in charitable activities, but others may get the impression that the world is a dead end place. The world is a dead end place for those who dont realize that the world is a holding place, a place to be overcome and exceeded through successful learning from challenging experiences; the missing next phase of growth is growth of consciousness/awareness.
Is the midlife crisis caused by a belief trap? Perhaps... for me it began with a moral dispute that led me to question much of what I had been taught throughout my life. I kinda feel like Neo when Morpheus reveals to him what the Matrix actually is... except my Morpheusis is the study of philosophy, theology, ideology, sociology... etc. I think midlife crisis happens for many different reasons and doubt that mine typifies the experience of all.
it's not a crisis, it's a renaissance! kids are self-feeding and self-watering, house is paid off, money is generally less of a concern, and we're still young and strong enough to climb mt everest or build a log cabin in a forest. and it's often the first opportunity many of us have to do these things. It's also the time we start putting more energy into life of the mind for it's own sake, and take deeper pleasures in the arts. I'd be middle aged for life if I could!
Although time seems to fly by, life in general seems to slow down. I've gained an appreciation for stopping to smell the roses, so to speak. I get butterflies in my stomach sometimes just watching life happen, whether that be people interacting or leaves collecting in my yard. I second cranks notion, I could get used to this middle-aged stuff.
I'm not sure how a mid-life crises would be effected by a belief in Heaven/Hell....or reincarnation...or even atheism. Some Christian men engage in affairs, divorce their wives, etc. in their mid-life crises....some atheist men do not.
It's bluddy fantastic, ain't it! no one ever tells you it is, and I guess when you're 25 you don't realise that you can be fitter and stronger and even a better athlete at 50 than you can be at 30. you just assume it's physically downhill all the way. and that's just the chassis. the brain is soooo much better once you get past 40. and you're quite right, rose smelling becomes a marvel. as does a Chopin Etude, and snow, and red wine, and really good French triple Brie, and libraries, and the awesome company of ones growing or grown children. It's also a great time for smoothing off the last of the rough edges of youth, and embracing the discovery that we don't need to appear sedate to be a grown up, after all.
