The Frustrations of Being 40 Years Old

For most women, the age of 40 is a time of anxiety, of panic, when one question still makes sense: "And what's next?" Few of us boast of fulfilling all our dreams up to this age. But experts believe that the good is just beginning.

Signs of physical fatigue, the subtle appearance of the first wrinkles, the impression that our memory is playing tricks, all tend to exaggerate the crisis of the age of 40.

We must be aware that we are entering a new stage, for which we have prepared so far and in which we cannot relive even a single day from the past. All these "obstacles" must bring us an exaggerated optimism for what is to come, for what we decide to do starting tomorrow!

At 40: a strange uneasiness

It's not easy to turn 40. Hormonal changes (menopause or premenopause) begin to occur and, at the same time, changes in our body are inevitable. The body begins to accumulate more fat (chest, abdomen), vitality is lost, the skin loses its flexibility, just like muscle mass.

All the excesses of smoking, drinking, and overeating tend to manifest themselves more and more strongly. Even our character changes, the transition from joy to sadness being unconscious. We begin to realize a strange uneasiness as if something bad were always happening. We realize that we are constantly changing and we do not know what to do.

The absolute need for revaluation

Although we have listed only the negative aspects, we must not believe that it is one of the worst possible stages. The psychologist's opinion is that there is no exact age at which to admit that we are going through a "crisis".

All the so-called "signs", such as hormonal changes or general malaise, are natural signs of life, signs that we become aware of at a certain age. At age 40, most women report an absolute need to reevaluate their goals in life. And the only way to get over this crisis, usually at the age of 40, is to make a change. You may also have achieved many of the proposed goals by this age. But none of us can certainly confirm the realization of all the dreams we have set ourselves since adolescence.

The interior inevitably deteriorates

We don't have to live in the past, wanting to be or become what we used to be. We can easily fall into what we call the "prison of frustration." Letting the past affect us is like being "closed" every day.

Some women try exhaustively to keep time in place, resorting to various tricks to maintain their youth and beauty. Perhaps these two aspects can only be recovered in appearance because the interior inevitably deteriorates.

Suggestions for a new life

It is best to let life follow its natural course, without wanting to control or change what cannot be changed. Don't know how to do this? Channel your energy into what is achievable and arm yourself with the power to plan a new beginning.

Tips for initiating "change":

• Accept yourself as you are! Acceptance does not mean resignation but taking control of the situation.

• Review your life! Try giving up all the things you don't use anymore and answer questions like, "What do I want to change?", "What do I want to keep?"

• Dare to do things that you previously considered impossible to do or did not finish. It's never too late to finish something you've already started.

• Take responsibility for your happiness! Do not imagine that your happiness is in the hands of others, leaving your life in their hands.

• Change your mindset! Give up "I want" and say "I want". If you want to change something in your life, don't hide behind the act of "having to", do everything because that's how you "decided".

• Ignore the words of others! Live your life, not the life of others. If you do not do this, no one will live for you!

For women who already have a family:

• If you are 40 years old and your husband is the same, you have the chance to go through the crisis of this stage together. Even if nothing ensures the continuity of a couple, communication will help you understand the difficulties of reaching the age of 40.

• As for the children, usually in their adolescence when their parents reach the age of 40, they are also subjected to a long series of transformations. They will try to find identity, individualization, and independence. Accept the changes around you and give the children the understanding they need.

The advantages of a new beginning

As you get older, you not only lose, you gain! The years give you the certain maturity, wisdom, and confidence that you need! What you left behind is not to be neglected, you learned from every experience you had.

It depends on you how you want to live from now on: sad and frustrated or happy, master of your own life. Do not ask for time to return, because you will not be successful. Choose today as the first moment in your new life.