Conway, Jim. "Helping A Burned-Out Man At Midlife" (2000).

Mr. Johnson was the sort of man who seemed to have it all. A senior position at his firm, a matured family and all the time in the world to do what he wants. Yet, each time he steps into his house, he is greeted with emptiness, and the old sense of loneliness is not new. His children were far away, studying and they mostly ignored him, his marriage was breaking apart, and at times, he just doesn’t see any purpose in living.

In a man’s life, there are many stages, and the most interesting would be the Middle Age. It is the transition between adulthood and old age, yet is often stereotyped or misapprehended as being a tedious, stultifying routine. (Barrow 54) Quite the reverse, as it is actually a time of change, where the corollary and adaptation to the difference will surely affect the adjustment to old age. “It is a stage in which men begin to reevaluate and question their priorities, and deal with their dreams and expectations.” (Anderson n.p.) There are also “feelings of confusions about self-identity, and where life is leading.” (Briggs n.p.) A midlife transition exists for male individuals, and is a normative development marked by feelings of uncertainty or restlessness and often results in a fundamental reorientation in views of oneself.

During midlife, males have to adapt to new roles, a different set of responsibilities and meet up to pristine expectations, all more often than not, particularly demanding. Most males at midlife, are taking on senior positions in their jobs, and also must provide care for both their children and aging parents. (Conway n.p.) Male individuals are expected to assume the mantle of leadership, authority and responsibility in both the workplace and at home. “At midlife, males experience peaks, and least of assessing their present occupation’s potential.” (Barrow 55) Midlife is a time to come to terms with what is not possible: scrutinizing one’s possibility of a higher status, more wealth or power. Males at midlife also tend to compare what they’ve accomplished, and how far they had hoped to go and also how far they can still go. (Henslin 74) “At midlife, males are also more aware of death, as they watch their parents’ age, or fall sick.” (Henslin 74.) A dramatic event thrusts adult children in care-giving roles, when they have to mind their aged parents. The roles of the child and the parent are reversed when the child is experiencing midlife. (Lerner n.p.) Living in a death-denying culture shields society from the facts of mortality and being young heightens one’s sense of indestructibility. By the midlife stage, peers have succumbed to heart attacks and cancer, and the death of a parent is a clear signal of one’s self-reliance. (Henslin 74) “Events that occur around the individual, during his midlife stage, remind him of how short life really is.” (Anderson n.p.) At this time, men have changed in their attitudes toward life, from “time since birth” to “time left to live.” (Henslin 74) Midlife is a balancing act between family and work, aging parents and a decline of health, through physical aging. (Nathanson n.p.) Despite the pressure of these new roles and expectations undertaken by middle-aged men gives them each a chance to redefine their goals and sense of purpose.

There is much strain in midlife, to maintain one’s true personae, yet it is also a time when views of oneself are indistinct. “It is during a self-identity struggle, when the period of midlife can be very uncomfortable and when a man can experience a wide range of feelings.” (Briggs n.p.) A man’s attitudes and perspectives are changed, and the result of this can come about naturally, or from some significant loss or alteration in his life. True preferences are innate from birth, but the environment influences a man’s behavior and discernment. (Briggs n.p.) It is during midlife that a ...