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Anima and Animus

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Two final aspects of personality remain for consideration in regard to

midlife development.
We all have
both
feminine and
masculine
energies.

Jung postulates that each individual has both masculine and feminine
components of the psyche. For a male the feminine component is the
anima, and for a female it is the animus. Part and parcel of human
biological and psychological development is this mixture of masculine and
feminine energies.
These energies are theoretical constructs or concepts, which are useful
for explanation but are not identical with gender. The separation of these
concepts from gender is very difficult to maintain in the English language
because of the similarity of words. Masculine energy and male and
feminine energy and female seem to be the same but are not. The
concepts may be better understood if viewed from a different context.

Men must
learn to
nurture and
women must
decide and
act.

In Eastern cultures the Tao symbol with its Yin and Yang energies is
expressive of the same idea. The Tao symbol, consisting of a circle
divided in two equal portions each containing an element of the other,
indicates that all of creation is composed of two energies held in harmony
and interaction.

The Yang energy is masculine in nature and is described as light, dry,

directed, focused, logical, and action oriented. Yin energy is feminine and
described as dark, moist, diffuse, vague, intuitive, and receptive. In
regard to psychological functioning, men are predominately yang but
contain a yin aspect. Women, while predominately yin, contain an
element of yang. Thus human beings arepsychologically androgynous
with latent inner masculine and feminine energies awaiting development.
In the first half of life a differentiation of the primary sexual identity and
corresponding energy takes place but in later life a call to integrate the
opposite energy, the anima or the animus, arises. This is a move towards

wholeness.
At the most basic and simplistic level what happens is that men begin to
develop their capacity for relationship and must come to terms with
emotions, vulnerability, and needs while women begin to become more
decision and action oriented and in the process claim their independence,
courage, power and wisdom. At midlife women are called to decide and
do while men are called to nurture.
This is process is seen in what Gail Sheehy in her book, Passages, refers
to as the "switch forties". This is the time in midlife when men in the roles
of husband and father begin a return to the values of home and family.
They are drained from their years in the work world. At the same time that
women as wives and mothers whose children are leaving home begin to
experience a pull to the world of work. A switching of roles is taking place
but may not be recognized as such.
At midlife
men and
women are
often at
cross
purposes.

A woman who has been in the care-taking role begins to want to establish
her own independence through action and accomplishments. An impetus
is provided to seeking employment, education, or career. At the same
time a man had often has enough of work and career. He recognizes the
stifling effect on his personal development. He now needs to open himself
to relationships and emotions, but when he does, he finds no one at
home. The children are now increasingly independent and on their way
out of the family by way of work or college. His wife who may have
eagerly sought his companionship when he was "too busy" now is after a
business of her own. The potential for significant relationship conflict
arises as these two people are crossing paths on different trajectories.
They are moving towards the earlier interests of the other. Each person is
in the process of integrating the opposite masculine or feminine energy.
Men must incorporate the inner feminine with its call for relatedness while
women must respond to the inner masculine and the need for action.
The anima and animus can influence a person in either a positive or
negative manner. If a man is under the influence of the positive anima he
will show tenderness, patience, consideration, and compassion. The
negative anima manifests as vanity, moodiness, bitchiness, and
sensitivity to hurt feelings. A woman with a positive animus shows
assertiveness, control, thoughtful rationality, and compassionate strength.
The negative animus reveals in strong opinions, ruthlessness, destructive
forces, and "always the last word". Both men and women are on the path
to their own integration and must struggle with the interpersonal
ramifications of the anima and the animus.
This process can be complicated by cultural influences. The impact of the
early womens movement motivated women to leave the home for the
work place. In doing so, these women had to take on a traditional
masculine role if they were to succeed. They had to become competitive
and more assertive. They had to internalize their emotions and be more
"logical." As a result, these women at midlife may find that they have
already developed the animus or the masculine energy. What they need
to do is to integrate the feminine back into their lives. The men who have
worked at being "liberated" have developed their feminine side and may

need to catch up on the masculine. The "Wild Man" of the recent mens
movement may be the symbol of recapturing the masculine energy.
When it comes time to integrate the opposite energetic component you
may have to do careful review of where you are in the individuation
process before identifying the task ahead. The basic question is, "What is
the current balance of the masculine and feminine energies in your life
and what needs further development?

Moving Towards Wholeness

As we grow and develop we choose from the opposites of personality to

establish our sense of self. We develop our ego (Capital letter "I") in this
manner. The task of the first half of life is to develop personality to the
best of our ability so we can live and function in the world. However, our
development inherently becomes one-sided. One of the opposites of
personality is chosen and emphasized at the expense of the other. You
become the best introvert you can but remain an under developed
extrovert so social settings make you very uncomfortable. Or, you
become the best of thinkers who is out of touch with the feeling side of
life. Your intuition may be excellent but you get overwhelmed in the many
details of daily life.
At midlife, there arises a deep call for wholeness. It comes from the
individuation process that is propelling growth. The "undeveloped" must
be developed if we are to be fully functioning people. Without this urge
towards wholeness we remain like a lopsided wheel trying to roll down
hill. We are awkward and can get out of control

At midlife
there is a
deep call for At midlife the meaning and purpose of the first half of life begins to fail.
wholeness. The agenda changes. It is no longer focussed on differentiation but
integration. We must give up the identity we worked so hard to get so we
can become more. There is a crisis of meaning. Life often seems to fall
apart. Signs and symptoms arise to get our attention so we will make the
change.
At this time we ask, "Is this all that there is?" This is a spiritual question
and midlife takes us into a quest for a deeper and more powerful
spirituality.
The midlife problem is that all of this change is extraordinarily difficult and
can be both greatly resisted and denied. Midlife offers the opportunity to
become "whole" but the journey does not have to be taken. You may
retreat into the stagnation pattern of holding on to youth.
At midlife you must be willing to "die" so you can be "reborn." You must
die to the old self that has become egocentric so you can reshape

yourself. This entails a certain amount of suffering and confrontation from

which many flee. However, to become a whole person the journey must
be taken.
Steps of managing midlife.

Midlife helps
you find true
meaning.

Recognize it as normal
Know that it is an internal task
Confront the suffering of letting go, change, and growth
Be open to spiritual growth, awakening, and challenge

Ultimately, midlife is taking you to a new and deeper level of meaning.

What meaning will work for you? What is a truly workable meaning for
life? Spiritual and psychological traditions all agree. It is to become a
generative person. In the simplest language it mean to fully, "Love you
neighbor as yourself." It is to follow the "Golden Rule." It is to Be of
service to others. Midlife is taking you to your true Self and challenging
you to the creative journey of making "That Which is Greater" manifest
the world.