Actual Life Begins After 40 Years

According to scientists, progress in the field of health care, improving education and increasing life expectancy in the Western countries has made so-called "mid-life crisis" a thing of the past.

The journal "Harvard Business Review" published an article in which Dr. Carl Streng of the University of Psychology in Tel Aviv (Israel) claims that "real life" can indeed begin at the age of 40. According to him, our society has accepted the fact that people, approximately 45 to 48 years old, going through a mid-life crisis. "But people are starting to live longer and more meaningful lives and we should forget this stereotype and start thinking not about a mid-life crisis but about mid-life change". According to C. Streng, if people start to use what they have learned about themselves during the first half of their lives, the second half may be even greater.

While we are young, we make decisions based on limited knowledge of our true potential. When we are teenagers or just after the age of 20 years old, we have very little knowledge about which activities are best for us and what we really love.

Most of us start families, settle in new homes and have important changes in our careers under the age of 30 or later, says psychologists. After the most important decisions remain in the past, people are free, they can enjoy their lives and to learn from past mistakes.

While life continues to show serious difficulties, we are capable to overcome them more easily because we are much better equipped with experience rather than in adolescence.

C. Streng suggests paying attention to the term "mid-life crisis" in 1965 proposed by psychoanalysts Elliott Jaques. He was 48 years old at the time. From that time until his death he created a family, wrote 12 books, worked as Anglican Church and the U.S. military advisor, and presented one of his original ideas. According to C. Strenger, life of Elliot Jaques should not be considered unusual.

"Our age-related stereotypes are hopelessly far from reality" - he said. According to the psychologist, many people after 40 years can expect a second life, or at least a second career.Source: http://hbr.org/product/the-existential-necessity-of-midlife-change/an/R0802E-PDF-ENG?Ntt=Strenger