As many women hit midlife, they experience a transformative period that is known as a midlife awakening. This awakening is a deeply personal experience that brings new perspectives on life. It can shake up your world and force you to let go of the conditioning from early in life. As the old parts of who you are fall away, it allows you to reconnect with who you really are.
Midlife awakening or midlife crisis?
While the midlife awakening is different for each person, there are some signs that indicate you may be going through this. In this blog post, I will look at ten of these signs and give you some insight into what they might mean for you.
Midlife Awakening Signs
You’ll spend more time going within
I mentioned earlier that during this time, you may find yourself going within and thinking about the life you’ve already lived. You may look at past decisions and how they affected your life, positively and negatively. You may begin to question what you truly want your life to look like moving forward. For me, this was a time when I felt a deep longing to understand myself better. I believe this is particularly true for neurodivergent women who have often lost their self-identity earlier in life because of people-pleasing. Women who have consistently put the needs of their spouse, children, or career above their own may realize at this point that they do not know who they are anymore. This was absolutely my experience. But this time is the start of reconnecting with themselves.
Your priorities begin to shift
During the process of awakening, you may find that material success and external achievements become less important to you. As your priorities shift, you may start to focus on creating meaningful experiences and deepening your relationships. Accumulating more “stuff” and making money becomes less of a priority. You may find that you no longer wish to live your life on autopilot and become more intentional about your thoughts, emotions, and the world around you. You choose to live more mindfully, slow down, and start to enjoy simple activities like walking in nature or enjoying a meal. In your relationships, you may become more empathetic and attuned to the needs and feelings of the people in your life.
You desire change
During this time, you may feel like something in your life needs to change. Something big. For example, you may decide that you can no longer stay in a toxic job. Your lifestyle may shift. And you may discover that certain relationships in your life no longer work for you. This was very true for me. During my awakening, I made a lot of big changes as I took a look at the different things in my life that no longer worked for me. I walked away from one-sided friendships. I got divorced. Left a job that was toxic to me. Left the house I had lived in for 19 years. Everything changed. Change is never easy. But in spite of the challenges, it was important to walk away from the things that weren’t working in my life.
You may have an increased interest in spirituality
If you experience a midlife awakening, you may find yourself drawn to spiritual practices, religion, metaphysical concepts, and ancient wisdom traditions. You may start exploring meditation, yoga, energy healing, or delve into esoteric subjects like astrology or tarot. Or you may be drawn to a deeper religious practice. This increased interest is a natural part of your spiritual evolution, as you seek to find deeper meaning and purpose in life.
You desire authenticity
As you awaken, there may be a deep calling within you to live more authentically. You may find that you no longer align with many of the expectations others have for you for who you should be. And you begin embracing who you really are. You strip away the masks you’ve worn for decades, let go of people-pleasing, and start deciding what is best for you. This may even lead to changes in how you dress, speak, or present yourself.
Reevaluating relationships
During an awakening, you may look at the relationships in your life and choose to end some. It is common to let go of the things that don’t serve you or align with your changing values. And you may find yourself wanting deeper, more meaningful relationships. Many women go through divorce in midlife because they find that their marriage is no longer working (or never really worked). It is common to move away from friendships or friend groups that no longer align with who you are.
You focus on your health and well-being
A woman’s body goes through a great deal of change in midlife. The hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause can have a big impact on your health. So you may become more conscious of your physical, mental, and emotional health during this time. You may find yourself choosing healthier habits and routines to support your well-being. You may also find yourself prioritizing self-care and taking care of your mental health needs more often.
You have an urge to create
During this time, you may discover a new creative interest, such as painting, writing, or music. Or you may rediscover a love or passion for a creative interest that you once enjoyed, but that was left behind because family and career took up more of your time. Reconnecting with creativity often develops as a way to express yourself during midlife.
The acceptance that things aren’t permanent
As you get older, you will face a growing amount of loss in your life. The death of parents, pets, friends, relatives, and siblings can make you more aware that nothing in life is permanent. If you struggle with health issues, this may force you to face your own mortality as well. These losses are challenging. But they can lead you to a deeper appreciation of how precious the present moment is and help you treasure the experiences that truly matter.
Desire for simplicity grows
And finally, during a midlife awakening, you may find that you start to crave a simpler, more intentional life. This often leads to decluttering, minimizing possessions, and focusing on what genuinely brings you joy. I have personally experienced this, and it’s amazing just how much lighter you feel when you go through your belongings and purge what you no longer need or what isn’t serving you anymore. It feels amazing to simplify life. In fact, I have another website all about living more simply. Check it out at Simple Clean Living.
Embarking on a midlife awakening
These are signs of an internal shift that is leading you towards a more meaningful, more peaceful, and more fulfilled life.
It’s important to note that not everyone experiences a midlife awakening. Those who do may not experience all of these signs. Additionally, these signs are also common signs of other life changes or transitions. If you are going through a challenging time, please get support from friends, family, or a mental health professional if you need to! It can be beneficial to have someone to talk to during this big life change.
