I'm reading a book called "The Stages of Life" by Clifford Anderson. He has a theory about the psychological process we undergo as we mature from birth through fully mature adulthood. It differs from developmental psychology. The theory has really fascinated me, especially what he has to say about the midlife crisis.
One item, of many, is that he believes the midlife crisis is a marked change in how the mind understands the world. Rather than using the five senses it begins to rely more on intuition. This allows a different picture of "whole" (starting there too), fundamental design and is more nonlinear.
The midlife "crisis" is the instability created by the shift. If I understand him, during this time one is given an additional "sense", and one has to deal with the new "insight". If you don't understand what is happening, it seems as if everything is falling apart.
Bricks don't make buildings; buildings need bricks. Maybe something like that.
That probably doesn't make sense, but I have to close this out.
10 comments:
hmmmmm.....
Do women have midlife crises, too?
Maybe he is saying that a midlife crisis is when a man gains a woman's sixth sense.
But seriously, I think guys aren't supposed to have any crisises (???)...
There is a point, maybe another point, which is common where you feel like "it's now or never" or "last chance" for some kind of change...
It's normally a good change into maturity. But it leaves you topsy turvy. I've been off my rocker for five years now. It's incredible how shaken things can get when you are in the best of circumstances.
Supposedly, if you make it past this thing and haven't done anything too idiotic, things get much better.
I've heard the quiet advice of a few say, "Love your family". That's been the most helpful.
The name of this blog has been the reminder of what's going to stay constant.
And what I can pass that on too :)
Painting has been really good for modeling what is going on. It exercises the intuitive part one has for bringing elements of a composition together.
The same feeling I have while staring at a painting that is just off and the destability and tension of not knowing what to do... is very similar to what I'm talking about.
Before the crisis, it all made sense. It's a linear progression.
... need to sleep...
Wow...
That is a very good explanantion. I am glad that painting is more than just a way to make something beautiful...although I am glad that it is that, too - for the rest of us who get to enjoy it!
keith,
I'm choosing to have an all life crisis.
It's all pre and post gall bladder.
The specialist that diagnosed me with gastritis left a message today that they wanted to do an ultrasound and check my gallbladder just to "follow up" on my back pain. I thought it might be funny and worth the co-pay to go ahead and let them try to find it.
That'd be funny!
Maybe they'd begin to think your pain was due to not having a gallbladder... which would blow current theories... turning back the evolutionary clock... arresting modern medicine... and bringing into question the non-need for the appendix and tonsils... spawning a religious backlash that God created us to have gallbladders and that science has intruded into nature too far... unleashing fundamentalists to overthrow the government through Neo-conservatism... raising tensions in the Middle East under new leadership... sparking World War III and a nuclear holocaust like the world has never seen or will ever see again!!!!!!
I like to believe that I have that much power. But, they'd probably say "you have the markings and stitches of a recent gallbladder surgery, Dumb***". Maybe I can tell them it still hurts and I need it back in. "Ya'll didn't throw it away, didja?"
You know it was on ice that day and sent to Minnesota to be inserted into a member of the "Society For Humans With Multiple Gall Bladders" whose motto is "Float Like A Boat!" Used on the Great Lakes.
I was explaining to Kaley last night that Kovi's "bad thoughts" is a transition much like this transition. He's growing up, poor kid... but wait until he's past this... and 8 years old... That's the ultimate - 8.
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