Introduction
Many societies have over the years developed different ways of ensuring the peaceful coexistence of their members and ways to cope with day-to-day challenges. However, adult life issues at personal level have proved quite challenging for many people. “The variations in coping mechanisms among different people depend on where and how” an individual was brought up. (Cohen, 56)One’s family origin has a direct influence on his/her adulthood.
I was born a Briton but I have never had the British experience, my whole life has been spent in Guelph Ontario where I have been engaged in various activities. I have worked for 30 years in Guelph Ontario and I have gained a lot of experience in life. I have been married for 25 years and I have two sons. In this paper, I am going to show how I; dealt, deal or would deal with five adult issues namely: Health habits and personal factors in mental health problems; Social role theory, mate Selection and divorce; Work Satisfaction, job performance and career transitions; Caring for Aging Parents; Creativity midlife Crisis and role transition.
Health Habits and Personal Factors in Mental Health Problems
I grew up with four sisters and one brother, my mother emphasized the importance of healthy living to us. We learned good health habits which included; healthy eating, high standards of hygiene and exercising. Throughout my life I have kept the teachings I received when I was still a young boy. “Good eating is central to proper physical and mental health of an individual.” (Cohen, 419)
First, my eating plan consists of; a healthy breakfast composed mainly of cereals and vitamins. This keeps me physically and mentally healthy and provides me with the strength needed to work. My lunch and supper include sufficient amount of protein, either beef or fish in addition to cereals and vitamins. I have been able to maintain a lean body and at the same time have sufficient energy to conduct my daily activities. Secondly, I indulge in evening workouts, which may include jogging and running. Thirdly, I take regular medical checkups to ascertain the health status of my body. For mental health, I prefer to talk about various issues rather than keep them to myself and I have learned that a problem shared is a problem solved. This has helped me to avoid stressful conditions associated with adult life.
Personal factors have a profound impact on mental health; people who keep to themselves have a higher chance of developing mental health problems. Though stressful conditions are experienced by everyone in life, it is important to have a proper approach in order to reduce the effects. In my case, I have learned to talk rather than confront people or keep issues to myself. I have also learned to develop a worm relationship with others, thus greatly reducing chances of stress accruing from interpersonal conduct.
Social Role Theory, Mate Selection, and Divorce
Throughout history, men and women have taken different roles both at home and in the society at large. Being a man, I have learned to take responsibilities aimed at providing for the needs and giving direction to members of my family. For this purpose, I must be consistently “competent and assertive in order for the family members to toe the path.” (Cohen, 105)In the contemporary society, where gender equality has been emphasized, men have found themselves sharing some family responsibilities which were traditionally theirs with their wives. I do share some responsibilities with my wife like providing for the family and discussing family matters rather than make decisions on my own. This has indeed made family life more interactive, though I still have to be assertive and appear as the head of the family especially for my sons.
On mate selection, I will describe the basis on which I chose my current wife. First and foremost was the social status, I needed a wife who would look up to me. Therefore she had to be of a lower social status. Other factors included; personality, beauty, race preference, height among others.
In order for me to take a serious divorce consideration on my wife, some of the following unfortunate issues should be present. If she is having an extramarital affair, a divorce will definitely follow. If we are experiencing family problems marked with persistent disagreements then a divorce may be considered. Lastly, several other problems like negating conjugal rights, disrespect and irresponsible behavior may lead to a divorce.
Work Satisfaction, Job Performance and Career Transitions
Career selection more often depends on a person’s passion, in order to give a maximum output one has to like the job he or she is doing. I have worked for 30 years in Guelph city in parks department, arenas and pools. For a job to be satisfying to me it must be able to; Provide adequate financial reward for my efforts, Have good working conditions which may include: sensible working time, a medical cover, favorable conditions that do not pose a health risk. If the job in question provides for the above, then my job performance wouldn’t be an issue. I have worked for 30 years and I have done my job satisfactorily by taking into consideration all the job requirements. My jobs do not require too much of a skill and therefore provides me with the much-needed flexibility to take a career shift. If conditions are right I prefer to stick to one job and develop myself by rising through the ranks. But if the requirements of a certain job are clearly violating my rights or the job is not providing enough financial rewards to cater to my needs I won’t hesitate to change it.
Caring for Aging Parents
Caring for an aging parent is a responsibility that nobody is well equipped to undertake. “The gradual change in life brought about by aging is never anticipated” to cause problems in the later years. (Cohen, 344)As children, we always depend on our parents for everything, the aim is to help us grow well and depend on ourselves. No one ever imagines ever coming back to give back to an aging parent. Should I be confronted with a need to care for an aging parent, then the following steps describe what I will do. I will first consult with the parent to make a plan on how best I can support him/her. I will then get a house help to monitor my parent, especially when undertaking risky activities such as driving. The house help will also be equipped to ensure that my aging parent is having proper healthy life, through diet, medication and exercise. I will set up a network of people to monitor the situation and build a fund to take care of any problem escalation.
Creativity on Midlife Crisis and Role Transition
I have been confronted with a midlife crisis, at first the experience was too overwhelming for me, I needed to re-evaluate myself to see if the kind of life I am living is worth it. I couldn’t think clearly and I would often back down. But over the years I have gained experience, in the event that I am faced with a mid-life crisis now, this is what I will do; I will take advantage of the situation to evaluate myself and “figure out how I can emerge stronger.” (Cohen, 456)
I will develop certain principles to guide me through life and reduce chances of the crisis occurring. I will share the problem with others, especially my spouse who together we will develop the said principles. Finally, I will try to live honestly and truthfully. The need for role transition is often associated with developmental changes in life. For me, role transition entails the ability to adapt to changing circumstances both at work and at home. For effective role transition, I will examine the new roles against the targeted goals. Is the role socially acceptable? Will I be able to get maximum benefit?
Conclusion
Life is a complex process that requires careful planning. For effective living, one should constantly evaluate himself or herself against the changing circumstances in both family and society. What we are taught by our parents as children lays a foundation for who we will be when we grow up. However, as a grown-up one is in a position to evaluate life, live truthfully, and choose what is best for him or her. If one can observe this it becomes easier to deal with problems arising due to different adult life issues.
Works Cited
Cohen, Stanley and Reese, Hayne. Life span developmental pyschology: Methodological Contributions. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 1994. print