One of the common threads you see from those who've successfully navigated midlife crises is that there is no magic bullet for something you can do when you are feeling as you do. There isn't a pill or a fix. Instead, what they suggest is that you embrace the process as a necessary aspect of life. Try not to despair and instead see the turmoil as an inevitable phase from which you will ultimately emerge with a renewed sense of purpose in your life.

Lost and aimless are exactly how one should feel before they've found their direction in life.

Reading your story it's easy to understand why you might feel the way you do. You miss your children and you've moved to a completely different country from them. Living with children, teaching them, guiding them, etc., provides a huge dose of meaning everyday. Don't confuse happiness and purpose. You said that you were miserable in Belgium. Even so, you were with them and as I said, that can be a lot of purpose.

While you don't have the in-person interaction with your kids that doesn't mean you can't have purpose in your life. It may feel like it's going to last forever, it won't.

Please read our 20 Questions on midlife crisis and perhaps some of the discussions on the topic. Best of luck.

Wesley Hein
Wesley [at] lifetwo [dot] com
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