The Mid-life crisis is a long time belief that society is hung onto despite research that indicates different. This belief is demonstrated by the ‘U-shaped happiness curve’ which dictates that one can only achieve happiness AFTER a crisis. The reality is that time shifts perspective. Psychologists, Sophie Hoehne and Daniel Zimprich discovered that a dip in happiness isn’t what occurs, but people begin to prioritize different goals to maximize their own happiness. This comes with growth overtime and is completely natural.
Sources:
Galambos, N. L., Krahn, H. J., Johnson, M. D., & Lachman, M. E. (2021). Another Attempt to Move Beyond the Cross-Sectional U Shape of Happiness: A Reply. Perspectives on psychological science, 16(6), 1447-1455. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211008823
Hoehne, S., & Zimprich, D. (2024). Age-related differences in trait affect: Establishing measurement invariance of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Psychology and Aging. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000810
