Why Midlife Matters More Than Ever: Carl Jung's 7 Tasks Of Midlife
I’m sure you have noticed that there are a lot of people talking about midlife these days and the reason why is because many of us can now expect to live until we are in our 80’s and 90’s, compared to the average life space of 60 to 75 years old in the 1960’s.
This now means that midlife is not the end of the story but a whole new season of living.
Midlife is considered to span from around the age of 40 to 65 years but is not necessarily defined by an age.
If you have reached midlife and feel like there is an inner shift happening - you are not alone.
I learnt about Carl Jung’s teachings when I was in may late 40’s and they made a lot of sense to me, so I thought I would share them with you.
Carl Jung was an analytical psychiatrist who believed that the second half of our life is less about achievement than it is about integration and coming into the right relationship with ourselves. His teachings are still highly relevant today and align with yoga’s approach to building self knowledge and inner harmony, where we move beyond external roles and responsibilities to turn inward and deepen our connection with our most authentic selves.
Today I thought I would share Jung’s 7 Tasks Of Midlife viewed through a yogic lens:
1. Facing The Shadow
In Jung’s view, the shadow is the part of us that we suppress or deny. Usually because we think these parts of ourselves are unacceptable, unlovable, too much or not enough.
Through yoga self study (svadhyaya), we gently begin to excavate and acknowledge the hidden aspects of ourselves and accept our shadows without judgment so we can become our most authentic and integrated selves - warts and all.
2. Reclaiming The Soul Aspect Of Ourselves
Developing our inner lives and spiritual meaning
Jung emphasises reconnecting with the soul or deeper self. Yoga teaches us that we are not the mind, not the body, not our emotions or achievements - we are Atman - the undisturbed self.
3. Maturation Of Relationships
Moving beyond dependency and superficiality in relationships. We need fewer relationships but more depth and values alignment. Superficial relationships will naturally fall away. Integrity matters. As we build right relationship with ourselves, we build relight relationships with all those who surround us including The Earth.
Relationships are where we practice presence, learn compassion and burn away illusion.
We move from non-attachment to non-grasping and from blame to self-responsibility.
4. Finding Purpose And Meaning On Our Life Path
Living a life aligned with our inner values and universal principles as we live less from our ego’s agenda and contribute in a meaningful way.
In yoga we call this dharma which means “the path of right action”
We can contribute through volunteering, mentoring, guiding or supporting others.
The question becomes “ How can I contribute in a way that feels nourishing, aligned and true for me?”
5. Facing The Reality Of Our Own Mortality And Death
Confronting the truth and inevitably of our own mortality and what this means to us as we realise that our time here is finite. This can be more clarifying than morbid as we stop postponing what matters the most. Yoga reminds us that that the body is temporary, but the soul is not. Now is the time to live with gratitude and presence and to enjoy all of our lives.
6. Letting Go Of The Roads Not Taken
This is like clearing out the attic or basement of our psyche as we review and accept that past choices we have made cannot be changed. This may stir feelings of regret or sadness here as we explore this for ourselves.
7. Letting Go Of Ego Dominance And Trying To Control Life
There is much more going on than we can ever see, know or control. Letting go of past identities, materialistic grasping and hoarding and outdated aspects of ourselves, opens us to the mystery and possibility of life as it unfolds.
Through the lens of yoga, midlife is the path of union with our truest nature.
As we shed illusion and ego, we walk the path toward self actualisation, emotional richness and integration so our lives are lived with reverence and gratitude right up to our very last breath.