Before the age of forty, whether we like to admit it or not, most of us follow the lives and careers of other people—parents, friends, colleagues in the company. After college, we might go to medical school and follow in the footsteps of our parents and become a family physician. We might become an engineer, because in our society, smart people do.
In the beginning, unsure banner design of what to do, we might go to a management consulting firm or a bank, because among our peers, it symbolizes talent and social status. Not only do we do what others expect, but we become what they expect—hard-working laborers, good-hearted managers, or conscientious and hard-working subordinates. The expectations around us shape our initial appearance and life. It does not mean that we are weak or lack self-awareness. In the early stages of life, this common pattern often works well, as anyone who has ever benefited from strict instruction knows this. However, it is only useful in the short term.
In order to meet the expectations of society, people build such an external image; when they are in their forties, many doubts emerge in their hearts, representing their "true self" for the first time confronting this external image. People often feel trapped when they realize for the first time that they are not living their entire lives. They know they can't continue on the current path. Instead of continuing to cater to the expectations of others, they want to redraw a path based on their own desires.