The word crisis is defined as "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger." If we're lucky, we'll all see midlife, but must we have a crisis? How can you avoid a midlife crisis? Some women sail through those middle years with ease, while others may begin to question the meaning and purpose of life. Menopause may be around the corner, or it may have already begun.

In today's episode author Lisa Levine is with me to discuss the topic of midlife for women today since we are both women and my podcast audience is primarily women. 

What do we mean by a midlife crisis, and can women avoid one? Does our transition in and through these years have to be a crisis?

We've all seen the portrayals of a midlife crisis, which is usually depicted by middle-aged men with flashy red sports cars, perhaps an affair. To some degree, a transition of identity appears to occur. While the stereotype exists for a reason, is this what we see with women? What does a midlife crisis look like for her?

Is a midlife crisis inevitable for all women, what factors come into play? Hormones, childhood trauma, mental health, circumstances, personality, etc? How much does menopause play a part in a woman's well-being during these life changes?

Are some women better prepared somehow to cope with the challenges that occur in middle age - why do some people seemingly sail right through while other women may go through drastic changes?

As a woman who has gone through a turbulent midlife crisis and having walked through it with multiple friends, I'm wondering, is there some advice you can share on decision-making during this period? 

How can we spend less time feeling the angst and longing for either things that are past or some new adventure that we can't necessarily identify? 

Do you have any tips for family members who have a loved one experiencing a midlife crisis?

What would you say is the best thing a woman can do if her best friend is going through this period of life and considering giving up on say 25-30 years of marriage?

It's difficult when you are in the midst of a midlife crisis in your own life to see younger women maybe on social media, advertisements and such idolized, do you think as a society we'll ever get this right? As they say, youth is wasted on the young!

How can women embrace midlife?

Lisa's Actionable Steps

* Be present in the moment* Meditation* Journaling* Pausing practice* Don't compare and despair* Practice mindfulness* Set new goals* Create a vision board* Commit to a mindset change* Get quality sleep

How to Support a Friend

* Practice active listening* Do something out of the ordinary and have fun.

About the Author

Lisa Levine is a Martha Beck Institute-certified Life and Health Coach at Audacious Health & Wellness. She helps women who are approaching midlife to create new and healthy habits in the way they think, eat, sleep and move, empowering them to live their lives fully and audaciously. Originally from the East Coast, she currently resides in Seattle spending much of her time writing, drinking matcha, overusing emojis, parenthesis, and punctuation (can’t stop, won’t stop), enjoying the beauty of the PNW, and playing in the kitchen, creating healthy fare for her family and friends. She is comforted by the reminder that the only constant in life is change and by the deeply rooted belief that ultimately everything will b...