Why do so many people encounter so many setbacks in midlife?
Why do we view these setbacks as a crisis?
What does this kind of crisis and experience mean?
The midlife crisis—what James Hollis calls "the road to midlife"—offers us an opportunity to look at ourselves, and Professor Hawes asks a seemingly terrifying but actually liberating question: "Besides my past and the roles I have played, who am I?"
When we discover that we have been living with a false self, driven by unrealistic expectations to play a "temporary" adult personality, we open the door to the second adulthood and usher in the true personality.
In this book, based on the perspective of Jungian psychology, Professor Hollis presents the levels of midlife experience in an insightful way, and leads us to re-examine, define, and adjust our own personality, so as to understand the true inner needs, put aside the constraints of childhood trauma and "temporary personality", start from pain, travel through the "middle age road", go to the other side of meaning, and finally form a stable, mature, and perfect personality.
Reader comments
Entering middle age, both physical strength and energy are obviously not as good as those in youth. The body begins to tire easily, and the brain power is not enough. The self-confidence in the future when I was young has also been shattered by the career career that I can see at a glance, and I feel powerless in life. In order to resist this feeling of powerlessness, I began to reflect on the meaning of life in the past two years, realized my own limitations, and no longer wanted to waste time. I worked hard to control the time I spent reading short, fast and mindless information. I persisted in broadening my horizons and improving my cognition through reading, regaining my childhood interests and hobbies, and courageously I dare to try some things that I wanted to do before but never did. Now it seems that I am probably on the road to middle age. However, this is not enough. I lack deeper thinking and my soul has not truly completed the transformation. I will continue to explore, change from seeking from the outside to seeking from the inside, and become an independent and strong-minded self.
This book made me realize that middle age does not mean a decline in life, but an opportunity to re-examine myself and shape my true personality. I especially agree with the book's point of view on getting rid of the shackles of "temporary personality". It makes me understand that we should not be swayed by society and other people's expectations, and we must bravely pursue our true selves. The analysis of midlife crisis in the book is also very profound, which made me think more about my life. All in all, this is an inspiring and courageous book.
When we reach middle age and see clearly that the contract with the world is just an illusion and impermanence is the truth, we can still embark on the path of mental growth, let everything flow through us, and feel life's own pursuit of "excellence" and abundance.
Although the world may not necessarily repay us with songs, we can still choose "The world kisses me with pain, but I repay it with songs..."
The road of life is full of hope, and our life should be a wilderness.
The content of the book is very inspiring and enlightening for middle-aged people, and helps them clarify their thoughts.
It's a very good book. It's called "The Road to Middle Ages", but it's actually about the second growth. This time, the growth is about raising and nurturing yourself. Only by truly knowing yourself can you face the world better.
It's very beautiful. I watch it every day. The separation of the streams is very good.
Entering middle age, both physical strength and energy are obviously not as good as those in youth. The body begins to tire easily, and the brain power is not enough. The self-confidence in the future when I was young has also been shattered by the career career that I can see at a glance, and I feel powerless in life. In order to resist this feeling of powerlessness, I began to reflect on the meaning of life in the past two years, realized my own limitations, and no longer wanted to waste time. I worked hard to control the time I spent reading short, fast and mindless information. I persisted in broadening my horizons and improving my cognition through reading, regaining my childhood interests and hobbies, and courageously I dare to try some things that I wanted to do before but never did. Now it seems that I am probably on the road to middle age. However, this is not enough. I lack deeper thinking and my soul has not truly completed the transformation. I will continue to explore, change from seeking from the outside to seeking from the inside, and become an independent and strong-minded self.
This book made me realize that middle age does not mean a decline in life, but an opportunity to re-examine myself and shape my true personality. I especially agree with the book's point of view on getting rid of the shackles of "temporary personality". It makes me understand that we should not be swayed by society and other people's expectations, and we must bravely pursue our true selves. The analysis of midlife crisis in the book is also very profound, which made me think more about my life. All in all, this is an inspiring and courageous book.
When we reach middle age and see clearly that the contract with the world is just an illusion and impermanence is the truth, we can still embark on the path of mental growth, let everything flow through us, and feel life's own pursuit of "excellence" and abundance. Although the world may not necessarily repay us with songs, we can still choose "The world kisses me with pain, but I repay it with songs..."
The road of life is full of hope, and our life should be a wilderness.
The content of the book is very inspiring and enlightening for middle-aged people, and helps them clarify their thoughts.
It's a very good book. It's called "The Road to Middle Ages", but it's actually about the second growth. This time, the growth is about raising and nurturing yourself. Only by truly knowing yourself can you face the world better.
It's very beautiful. I watch it every day. The separation of the streams is very good.