Today I came across a new phrase to describe midlife, ‘the afternoon of life,’ which was first used by Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, in 1931 to describe the decades during and after midlife.
Whilst less offensive than ‘over-the-hill’ or ‘the wrong side of forty,’ its almost snoozy vibe, didn’t resonate with me or how I feel about this period of my life. But neither does ‘in my prime’, ‘perennial’, or ‘vintage.’
But what word or phrase would I use?
Truthfully, I’m still searching. Because midlife is not a single story.
It’s the most diverse age group I know. Some are advancing their careers; others are quietly questioning Is this it? Some are setting up businesses, others are retiring. Some are prioritising their health; others are navigating chronic illness. Some are volunteering; others are travelling around the world. Some are getting divorced; others are meeting their soulmate for the very first time. Some are adapting to being empty-nesters; others are learning to accept that they won’t have children of their own.
Some are unravelling.
And that’s not always a bad thing.
Brené Brown describes this phase as The Midlife Unraveling – a time when the armor we’ve spent years building no longer fits, and we’re called to stop living according to expectations, roles, and old stories. It’s not a breakdown, she says, but a breakthrough. An invitation to unbecome who we’re not, so we can become more fully ourselves.
Can you capture that kind of complexity in a single word or sentence?
In my experience, midlife is a multitude of transitions. Transitions with necessary endings, messy middles, and new beginnings. A time of challenge and disruption, for reflection, self-exploration, and growth. A time to let go of what no longer serves us—and an opportunity to invest in what does. A time to take stock, to get clear on what’s truly important, and a time to say YES! to yourself.
So whilst I don’t have the word for this stage yet, I’ll leave you with the wisdom of David Bowie:
“Ageing is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been.”
How would you describe midlife? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
