•Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Recently i met 25-years old friend of mine,he was in my college and now works in a corporate PR firm.He has switched three jobs in past two years.During conversation he shared me" I am interested in every thing but committed to nothing.I don't see myself doing that kind of work for next 20 years." He is just concrete example, there are number of youngsters in their twenties suffering from this malaise called quarter life crisis,which strikes way before classic midlife crisis.The twenties,the most energetic and adventurous time of one's life,are troubled.Anxiety, confusion, loneliness,alcohol and self-doubt are telltale symptoms and they are noticed in today's youth everywhere.
What is the Quarter Life Crisis? Here's an excerpt from an article I recently read:
"This phenomenon, known as the “Quarter life Crisis,” is... unrelenting indecision, isolation, confusion and anxiety about working, relationships and direction is reported by people in their mid-twenties to early thirties who are usually urban, middle class and well-educated; those who should be able to capitalize on their youth, unparalleled freedom and free-for-all individuation. They can’t make any decisions, because they don’t know what they want, and they don’t know what they want because they don’t know who they are."
Twenty Triangle: Cristine Hassler,life coach and author of "20 Something,20 Everything" says the crisis crops up when there are no clear answers to the "Twenty Triangle". "
Who am I?
What do i want?
How do i get it?
Not knowing the answers of those questions leads to the feelings of panic,confusion or lack of motivation" she says.According to her the quarter life crisis is a very natural rite of passage that shows up without any warning.Here 20-something are mired in the panic of "what is next?".Here security blanket of college and parents is gone."It is crossroad in life,a time when the real world hits and you feel like you are faced with decisions that you don't know how to make",she says. Unfortunately,degrees don't come with instructions for real world.
Countless choices :Unfortunately in this world of too many options,it isn't easy to make a choice,you can't even choose what you will eat in breakfast in next morning,then choosing what you want to do in next 20-years is even more difficult decision.They are unable to set their priorities.They don't see the opportunities in their hand,look for something different.I listen many people saying"I have been trying to understand where i want to go and what i want to do?"The reason behind it is drastic career switches by flip-flop,job hopping generation.They soon get to know that the career don't match with their interests,attitude and aptitude and they look for another option.They soon try to compare how successful they are by what their friends are earning.They don't set their own personal benchmarks for success.
Dating Dilemma: Most of the 20-something are serial daters,but still feel lonely.They are not sure about what in their head.Regular break up and commitment-phobia make their relationship so hollow that it doesn't have the potential to last.Social Networking Sites are the new culprits of wrecked relationships today,because they demand an exhausting emotional involvement.The dating game is all going wrong in India.This is time when the hormones of a 20-something are fizzing.They possess none of the psychological tools to discriminate between genuine and fake interest.The new found social freedom is so new for 20-something in India that they are not aware of its implications.
Don't panic:A Quarter Life Crisis is a very natural rite of the passage.It isn't the end of the world.Look at your past achievements and feel good about them.If you're unable to sort out the culprit, a regular counselling can help.And Remember:
Have patience with all things. But first of all, with yourself."
- St. Francis de Sales
