Midlife isn’t falling apart. It’s asking for your attention.

In this episode of Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley dismantles the idea of the “midlife crisis” and replaces it with a far more hopeful and powerful framework: midlife as a chrysalis, a necessary transition into a second adulthood.

Drawing from social science, psychology, and his own deeply personal story, Chip explains why midlife often feels like a breakdown, why it’s actually normal, and how it can become the most meaningful chapter of your life.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

- Why happiness dips in midlife and rises afterward

- How identity loss and burnout are signals, not failures

- Why midlife hits men and women differently

- How wisdom and purpose often peak later in life

If you’re feeling burned out, disoriented, or quietly wondering, “Is this all there is?”, the answer, as Chip shows, is no. This is where something new begins.

👉 Watch now to understand what midlife is really asking of you and how to move from breakdown to transformation.

Timestamps:

01:20 The Origin of the Midlife Crisis Idea

04:40 The U Curve of Happiness

06:21 Why Midlife Is Not a Crisis

09:12 Becoming a Modern Elder

11:24 Chip’s Midlife Struggles

21:11 Why Midlife Lacks Support Systems

23:17 Biology vs Life Circumstances

25:49 How to Move from Crisis to Chrysalis

30:23 Watching People Self-Destruct in Midlife

34:18 Rebranding Midlife for the Future

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

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