In the Life Insight Tip called "Am I in Mid-Life Crisis?", we looked at three signs of mid-life crisis or as I prefer to call it,'the second journey'. The journey seems to 'just happen' rather than being planned. A 'crisis of feelings' usually occurs and a 'radical reappraisal' of our lives can take place with important decisions and life style changes often occurring.

Almost universally the second journey brings a search for new meaning, fresh or changing values and different goals. We may undertake a totally new career path because the old one no longer satisfies. The roles and positions we held may lose their appeal. Old purposes and causes may fade. The values and goals which guided our lives and gave us direction cease to be as important.

Feeling dissatisfied, we get the feeling that there is "more" to life, even if we are uncertain what that may be. The quest to find out begins.

Surprisingly for many people on a second journey, a deep sense of loneliness can invade our lives. Eventually this may become a quiet and integrated feeling of being content, but before that happens, a real inner struggle may occur.

We may become restless, depressed and withdrawn. Our loneliness might increase as we move away from old jobs, roles, friendships and institutions. We may move off what others considered to be the 'normal course' and our lives can appear to be zigzagging and unpredictable as we begin to explore this new terrain.

However, second journeys can become very fulfilling and very often bring about a deeper sense of contentment, a feeling of congruency with new wisdom and empowerment. Having begun dramatically, the lessons learnt and insights gained along the way, now give us deeper appreciation and awareness of who we are and what we want.

A new realism and feeling of integration can provide us with inner contentment as we emerge as our own person.

We have delivered ourselves into our own hands and for that the journey is well worth it!