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Kim Neeson, ACC
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12 Signs Of An Impending Life Crisis
Professionals at any level, from the front line to the C-suite, can find themselves facing a life crisis at any point in time. Sometimes, a crisis happens suddenly, but if you’re in tune with yourself and the world around you, you can often spot and address the signs before an issue fully arises.
Below, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss some of these signs and how professionals can navigate past a life crisis looming on the horizon and make their way to better times.
1. You Feel Unfulfilled
I remember a time, midcareer, when I felt extremely grateful for my life and career yet unfulfilled. And I didn’t necessarily know why. If this is what you are feeling right now, the attitude I suggest is to honor it. Lean toward it and treat it as a wake-up call. Allow that unhappiness to speak to you. What is the message behind the unhappiness? What isn’t being lived in your life? - Fabiana Mariano Green, Lead in Life
2. You Have Experienced Repeated Success
One key sign is repeated success. Contrary to what many believe, repeated successes and growth will lead to a life crisis if you feel you have attained the highest achievements in your life—like climbing a mountain, the toughest part isn’t the ascent but the descent. On the heels of successes, professionals need to prepare well to navigate back down to a performance state of normalcy and recovery. - Jedidiah Alex Koh, Coaching Changes Lives
3. Things Simply Are Not Working
A big red flag is when things simply are not working. You’re not bringing your A-game. Conversations go sideways. You find yourself or others reacting poorly much of the time. You slip on commitments. There’s tension at work or home. Use this nudge to slow down, back off and ask yourself what is not working for you and within you. Such rubs are an invitation to cultivate new insight and wisdom. - Tevis Trower, Balance Integration Corporation
4. You Are Feeling Irritable
One sign that a life crisis is imminent is irritability, which manifests as being short-tempered, condescending or rude. A professional can navigate this by acknowledging the problem, addressing it and getting help for it, whether through self-care, therapy or coaching. Take some time away from the office to get grounded. - Jacquelyn Van Tuyl, Jacquelyn Van Tuyl International
5. You Question Who You Are
When you ask yourself who you are or what you stand for, that’s one sign that something needs to change in your perspective on life. Remember, it’s never about what is happening outside of you; your decisions led you to this moment and will determine how your next actions will take you toward a more peaceful path. Look within and observe. - Able Wanamakok, Find Your Voice Asia
6. You Question Your Meaning Or Purpose
When something is on your mind constantly that leads you to question your existence, meaning or purpose, that is a sign of a crisis emerging. Seek different forms of support and ways to mitigate this. A multifaceted approach is needed to uproot this. Interventions include a coach, counselor and mentor. Do activities that stimulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin. - Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
7. Your Emotions Have Been Hijacked
A life crisis has the potential to spiral out of control when people have not prepared themselves and are presented with an overwhelming situation. The usual response is fight-or-flight and emotions are hijacked. To navigate this as a coach, the reframing of perspective is key. Having options provides an individual with some level of control, which may provide a way to deal with the crisis. - Thomas Lim, Singapore Public Service, SportSG
8. You Are Losing Sleep, Appetite And Rationality
There are many signs or triggers that one might experience when going through some type of life crisis. These can range from a loss of appetite to irrational behavior or lack of sleep. The list is quite long, and the signs will be different for each person. I advise individuals to voice their concerns and seek help. Help can look like a therapist, loved one, coach or a combination of all three. - Joshua Miller, Joshua Miller Executive Coaching
9. You Lack Focus And Feel Stressed
Life crises include divorce, death of a loved one, illness, burnout and the loss of meaning in what one is doing. The symptoms include lack of focus, irritability, more stressful (than usual) reactions and (my personal favorite) wanting to “pitch it all out the window.” Recognition and acknowledgment are key. Let your team know that you need more time and space, and let them take some of the burden. - Kim Neeson, Kim Neeson Consultancy
10. You Feel Unfocused, Worried And Tense
There are certain warning signs that a crisis is coming; if we notice them early, we can hopefully prevent it. Some typical signs are sleepless nights, difficulty focusing, nagging worries and increased tension in the body. Whenever you notice any of these signs, take a good long look at what is going on in your life at the moment, what is stressing you and what you are worried about. - Rajeev Shroff, Cupela Consulting
11. You Are No Longer Making Progress
One major life crisis is getting stuck in life. It often can be difficult to tell that you are at first, but then things go out of balance and you’re no longer making progress. It’s important to understand your feelings and derive actionable solutions to help you find your purpose and direction. - Mikhail Saidov, Coaching Solutions
12. You Are Shoving Issues Into The Background
So many of us shove issues into the background to look at later, believing that our own health and well-being aren't as important as all of the things we're doing for others. The truth is, you can spend five to 15 minutes a day now and significantly change your life, or you can ignore issues until they blow up into a “life crisis” and spend two or three years unraveling everything and getting yourself back on track. - Bronwen Sciortino, sheIQ Life Pty Ltd
As seen in Forbes.com
Stay The Course or Pursue Innovation?
First, ask yourself why you want to pursue innovation. Is your market changing? Asking yourself, “If I stay the course, what will happen in one year/three years/five years?” may help inform your decision.
Sometimes taking your eye off what is working to focus on something new can actually hurt your current performance and your ability to keep growing what you’ve already built.
~As seen in Forbes.com
Remember, Thoughts Aren't Facts
Remember, thoughts are just sentences in your mind—they aren't facts. A thought is an observation or opinion you create about a circumstance. Remind yourself of the facts of a situation (“We will sell less this month,” for example) and take out the emotion (“I'm a failure!”).
If you focus on the fact versus the emotion, the circumstance becomes neutral and measurable, not out of control.
~As seen in Forbes.com