Pretty much what the title says. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis, maybe I’m just getting depression, but my life hasn’t turned out how I wanted it to be.
I grew up religious, but I’m not anymore. I was married, not anymore. No kids. Got the career I wanted and make ok money but got stuck and bored. Got to travel but it’s not having the same impact it used to on me.
I’m not sure. I’ve got a decent relationship, nice apartment, a cat, wonderful family and friends. But just wondering what my purpose is and feeling listless and depressed.
Just wondering if I can get thoughts from anyone who’s been through it
Comments
I’m experiencing existential angst. Don’t have as much going as you do, that’s not to say your situation and what your experience isn’t valid. What I find that helps me is going to therapy, focusing on my ambitions, attempting to get out of my comfort zone, cutting the negative people out of my life, and hanging out with people who care about me.
I think it is not uncommon for people to feel this way in our middle years. As women especially we’re socialized to ignore our desires, to put others first, all while ticking off a list of must-dos (degree, career, partner, kids, etc.) that might not even fulfill us. I found myself floundering a bit like this a few years ago and have just dedicated time and energy to exploring the things I’ve always been interested in, whether they net me some tangible gain or not. I’ve also spent a lot of time working on my neuroses and addressing things I ignored but had a lot of detrimental impacts on my life.
I find it to be important to my mental health to have some sort of goal to be working towards and to be making progress in consistently. Whenever I have felt listless in life, it’s after I’ve “accomplished” whatever that thing was and no longer had a focus in life.
I do this through hobbies right now but at other periods of my life, I’ve gone back to school or changed careers.
I know having a sense of purpose can help some people…. I just don’t subscribe to that. You don’t need a purpose. Just enjoy your life.
Make joy your purpose. What makes you feel good? What do you like to do? Do them!
Chocolate? Eat it! Traveling? Get going! Etc etc.