About this episode

Margie Lachman discusses the realities of midlife, challenging common myths and highlighting its potential as a peak time for creativity and judgment.

Many of us grow up believing that midlife is when things start going downhill. Your body's breaking down, your best work is behind you, and you may fall into a full-blown existential crisis. But a lot of what we think we know about midlife turns out to be based more on pop culture than actual research. My guest says the reality is much more encouraging. Her name is Margie Lachman. She's a professor of psychology, the Director of the Lifespan Lab at Brandeis University, and the author of Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife . Today on the show, Margie discusses what age range constitutes midlife — and how it's not just a matter of chronological age — and whether people really become less happy and experience a midlife crisis during these years. She explains the surprising ways your mind continues to improve even as some abilities slow down, and why this stage of life often represents a peak combination of creativity and judgment. We also talk about the real challenges that come with midlife and how adopting the right mindset and habits can mitigate those downsides while helping you make the most of what Margie argues can truly be a sweet spot in life — a time when you still have…

People in this episode

Host: The Art of Manliness

Guest: Margie Lachman

Topics covered

• midlife
• psychology
• creativity
• happiness
• personal growth
• existential crisis

Keywords

• midlife myths
• happiness
• creativity
• psychology
• personal development
• existential crisis
• aging

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brandeis University

Books & works: Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife, Seasons of a Man’s Life, Transformations: Growth and Change in Adult Life, Passages: Predictable Crises of A

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