Customer Reviews

Awakening at Midlife

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Awakening at midlife is an intelligent book. Instead of focusing strictly on physical changes, it touches on issues that affect us, both men and women in midlife, in a larger sense: the search for wholeness, losses and death, continuing growth strategies, and relationships. It then goes on to give us techniques for enriching our lives that include dreamwork, creativity, and spirituality.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making the second half of their life as rich as or richer than the first half. Too often the focus at this time of life is on our losses--physical changes, death of friends and family members, role changes, and career stagnation. This book shows us how to focus on the positive aspects of growing older. It's a time when we can recreate our lives in the present, discover our true potential, and return to who we really are.

This is one of the best books I've ever read! If you are suffering from a seemingly vauge, unidentifiable dissatisfaction with your life, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of the help offered in this book. It has enriched my life and helped me take a more positive, proactive view of the changes I've gone through as well as the ones that are yet to come. I plan on keeping this book close at hand for review, rereading and guidance.

A woman or man in the middle passage, a friend or lover of someone, a parent or companion, a mentor, therapist, counselor, or even boss of such a traveler, will benefit from the giving, gifting, or receiving of this book ~ BUT only if they read it. Please, READ this book.
The author has beautifuly and skillfully sythesized Carl Jung's work related to the middle life passage/crisis. She speaks eloquently and articulates the personal/case exemplar histories with the theory and reality of the awakening that is potential at midlife. I have been so effected by her work that I have purchased 15 or 20 copies (I am losing track) and regularly give the book to persons in my life or whom I cross paths with. That action puts my money where my mouth is.
This book speaks volumes and has truth for the taking. I am in the midst of my own awakening and this book is a marvelous travel guide. The insights and understanding I have gained in reading and discussing this work help me in my practice, personal life and in the work I do in the lives of others.

I found this book to be very well researched and written; I'm using it as a core component of my midlife women's groups and have recommended it to several people. This book helps take the sting out of midlife misery while providing support and encouragement. I'd recommend this book to anyone dealing with midlife questions or concerns...you won't be disappointed!

A mixture of Jungian psychology, ancient wisdom and common sense, Awakening at Midlife is simply an incredible resource in a very difficult time. I've read and reread the book several times. I'd lend it out to friends if I could part with it!

In this midlife classic, Kathleen Brehony undertakes to unravel the meaning of midlife crisis through a Jungian lens, and why the symptoms often appear in the prime of life, when people have finally achieved so many things they worked so hard for.

Carl Jung saw midlife as a natural and necessary passage to becoming a whole human being. Describing it as the emergence of our `unlived selves', he suggests that it's built into the structure of the Self, and is a unique opportunity for growth. As carefully crafted public masks crumble as our `shadow' - beliefs and behaviors repressed through social conditioning - seek release and authentic expression.

The poet Robert Bly who wrote A Little Book on the Human Shadow, notes that we spend half our lives putting parts of ourselves into the shadow and the other half trying to take them out again. Its no surprise that lives built on false foundations can dramatically upset our balance!

Midlife still catches most of people by surprise, and is often misdiagnosed and misjudged. Therapists who fail to recognize its complexity may treat it as depression with Prozac, without understanding it as a necessary part of the journey to individual growth. This book offers a holistic viewpoint of midlife as a search for wholeness, and includes exercises for ways to give unexpressed parts of yourself a voice.

The good news is that midlife requires only three things of us: integrity, trust, and courage. A bite-sized prescription of how to navigate the passage smoothly might be summed up as: Act in alignment with your insights.

Awakening at Midlife is a call to meaning. As an author, therapist, and speaker on midlife choices, I have witnessed the transition Kathleen Behony is talking about. She gives us a thorough look at why midlife is a fruitful time to assess our choices. She also gives some practical ways to explore.
I particularly liked how she wove her journey through the book.
Karla Freeman, Creating Magic in Midlife: 101 Questions and Answers to Reinvent Your Work, Relationships, and Life!

Far and away the best book I have ever read on the subject of midlife, personal growth, and the process of individuation. A must read!

Fantastic! great style and content. I've read a dozen of midlife passage books, and this one stands out. Highly recommended.

Midlife crises are usually acknowledged as depression symtoms. Kathelee Brehony presents a new approach to midlife crisis as a call-up to change in our lives. A wake-up call to be ourselves by begining to accept and expose our inner hidden feelings and self that have been concealed due to society pre-established norms. Definitely, a useful guide to personal growth and development.