Midlife Mavericks: Uncovering Your ‘Dukkha’ and Turning it into Opportunity

As a profitability coach, I often work with professionals in their late 30s, 40s, and 50s—people who’ve built successful careers yet feel stuck. They’re established but not fulfilled. They’re stable but not thriving. They’ve done everything they were supposed to do, and yet there’s a gnawing feeling that something is missing. If this resonates with you, welcome to the world of the Midlife Maverick.

This isn't a midlife crisis; it’s something deeper. In Buddhist philosophy, there’s a term for this feeling—Dukkha. Dukkha represents the suffering, discomfort, or dissatisfaction that arises when life is out of balance. It’s a bit like a pebble in your shoe—small but impossible to ignore.

The truth is, that uncovering your Dukkha might be the key to unlocking the next chapter of your life.

What is Dukkha, and Why Does It Matter?

In simple terms, Dukkha is the gap between where you are and where you know you could be. It’s the discomfort of staying in a job or life path that no longer aligns with who you’ve become. For many mid-career professionals, this discomfort grows more pronounced as they navigate the tension between security and fulfillment.

Maybe you feel like you’ve hit a plateau, or perhaps you’ve been dreaming of a side venture but have no idea where to start. Recognizing your Dukkha is the first step toward breaking free from this cycle.

Embracing Your Dukkha as a Midlife Maverick

Instead of ignoring the discomfort or pushing through it, the path of the Midlife Maverick is about leaning into it. Let that feeling of dissatisfaction become your guide. It’s not a weakness to admit that you want more—it’s an opportunity. Here’s how to start:

1. Acknowledge the Discomfort – Start by identifying what’s making you uneasy. Is it the monotony of your work? The lack of impact? Or maybe it’s a deeper question about your purpose. Whatever it is, don’t shy away from it.
2. Redefine Success – Many of us have been conditioned to believe that success is tied to titles, paychecks, or achievements. But what if success was about living a life aligned with your values, passions, and deeper sense of purpose?
3. Turn Dukkha into a Venture – Often, the source of our Dukkha holds the key to our next venture. If your work feels meaningless, maybe it’s time to start something that excites you—a side venture, consulting, or even a passion project. What skills, interests, or experiences do you have that could be turned into something profitable? The side hustle you’ve always thought about might be the thing that leads you to a life of meaning, purpose, and financial security.

From Corporate Captive to Midlife Maverick

Many of us fear leaving the corporate path we’ve spent years building. But let me be clear: you don’t have to burn down what you’ve built to find fulfillment. The Midlife Maverick path is not about drastic changes; it’s about smart, intentional shifts.

Start small. Explore a side venture or consultancy in an area that genuinely excites you. Build something that aligns with your values and offers you the freedom to make decisions on your terms. The beauty of midlife is that you have experience, resources, and wisdom—you’re in a prime position to take control of your future.

Your Dukkha is Not a Dead End—It’s a Signpost

The discomfort you feel is not something to be feared or ignored. It’s a signpost pointing you toward your next chapter. By uncovering your Dukkha and embracing it, you can shift from being a Corporate Captive to a Midlife Maverick, reclaiming both your time and purpose in life.

It’s not just about escaping the corporate grind—it’s about creating a life that excites you. A life that leverages your hard-earned skills and turns your passions into profitable ventures.

Are you ready to uncover your Dukkha and rewrite the rules of your success?

This article speaks directly to mid-career professionals in an authentic, coach-to-client tone. It integrates the concept of Dukkha and aligns it with the journey of becoming a Midlife Maverick, empowering readers to embrace their discomfort and use it as a catalyst for change.