Is there a time in one's life when he or she so drastically changes that it feels like a rebirth, a do-over, the beginning of a new life? Can there be a directional life compass which, if set in the right direction leads to a purposeful life or if set askew, leads to a life of struggle and despair? The midlife crisis, reserved for the 50-something crowd is a time of introspection at life's midpoint. What about the beginning of adulthood? I believe for some, this awareness happens in the 27th year of life.

"He was born in the summer of his 27th year," writes John Denver in his 1973 folk-rock song, "Rocky Mountain High." John Mayer sings, "But all I feel's alone, it might be a quarter-life crisis or just a stirring in my soul." Mayer and Denver's songs identify the struggle many 20-somethings battle trying to discover internal feelings of unrest. During this feeling of unrest many struggle to the level of dysfunction.

Recently this discussion resurfaced with the death of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Her yet to be determined cause of death is a tragic reminder of the war many young adults have trying to make sense of life in their late 20s. Reading the list of musicians whose life ended in their 27th year drew my attention back to the reason for this statistical oddity. Might there be a psychologically developmental explanation for this mathematical spike in musician's death at 27 or is the phenomenon purely coincidental?

First, let's examine the musicians whose life ended before their 28th birthday; sometimes referred to as the 27 Club.

• Famous blues musician, Robert Johnson who died of unknown causes in 1938.

• Rolling Stones founder, Brian Jones who died in 1969 of a "misadventure."

• Pioneering guitarist, singer-songwriter Jimi Hendrix who died of asphyxiation.

• Janis Joplin, lead singer for Big Brother and the Holding Company, who died of a probable heroine overdose.

• Lyricist of The Doors, Jim Morrison, who died in 1971 of unknown causes because no autopsy was performed.

• Founding member of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain who died of a well-documented suicide.

• Newest member of the 27 Club, Amy Winehouse who died after years battling addiction.

Other notable musicians who died at age 27 include: Alan Wilson of Canned Heat, The Grateful Dead's founding member Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bad Finger's leader Pete Ham and rappers Stretch, Fat Pat and Freaky Tah.

In my private practice I often ask clients struggling with life as 30, 40, 50 or 60-year-olds to describe their life when they were 27. Often, the client recounts a time of frustration, helplessness, destructive behavior and apathy. When asking successful clients in their 50s the same question they often smile a talk of gaining power in their life or making major life-choices that lay the path for present success - a successful life is purposeful.

I distinctly remember my 27th year. My life was not out of control or purposeless. My life was static. I began feeling uneasy and restless and began to ask myself big world questions. "What do I want out of my life, what can I do to become a whole person and what changes might I make today to make life better as I age?" In this moment of quarter-life clarity I decide three things:

1. I do not want to sit on my deathbed as an old man and say, "I wish I would have..."

2. Most things I desire in life take time to achieve but I will never achieve what I want unless I start the journey.

3. Do the right thing! The Spike Lee movie by the same name was released the year prior to my rebirth. I became internally moved by the premise to do the right thing. This is the first time in my short life that I realized doing right was my choice, my beliefs, morals and ethics. I earned, through my 27 years on this planet the control to do what is right for me.

Renowned psychologist Erik Erickson believes that personality develops through a series of psychosocial stages that every person passes through during their lifetime. In each of these stages humans experience conflict that serves as a turning point in development. If the person resolves the psychological conflict, she finds quality in that stage of life and achieves personal growth. If the person fails to resolve the psychological conflict, she struggles in the stage and has the potential for failure.

Erickson's psychological struggle for a person in his or her late 20s is the battle between intimacy and isolation. Developing close, committed relationships creates intimacy and without these relationships, a person becomes isolated. In-order for a person to have the foundation to commit to others, the person must first have a strong sense of self. An individual with a weak sense of self tends to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness and depression.

During this struggle to belong, be loved, create nurturing relationships and form an identity, a person does one of three things: A person might focus on becoming a whole person by purposefully directing his or her life, attempt to grab all life has to offer by living for the moment or a person might choose to do nothing at all - apathy. Choosing to purposefully direct one's life sets life's compass for future growth and success. Always living for the moment often neglects relationship building and forms a false identity impossible to maintain throughout one's life. Also, living for the moment and negating delayed gratification creates situations, which tend to shorten one's lifespan leading to the early death of many creative, fast-living thrill-takers. Making a choice to do nothing is stagnation.

What happens to a person who misses the opportunity to choose a purposeful life in his or her mid-20s? It is seldom too late to make positive changes in a person's life but change takes work. I suggest taking an internal inventory. Is your life important? Do you have positive, nurturing relationships? Is your professional life what you wish it to be? Is your behavior self-destructive or self-defeating? How often a day do you laugh? Do people respect and admire you or do people fear and avoid you? When you picture yourself on your last day of life on this Earth, will you be able to say, "I lived a good life?" If you are unsatisfied with your life-direction, reset your compass.

Bill Rutherford is a psychotherapist, public speaker, elementary school counselor, adjunct college psychology instructor and executive chef, and owner of Rutherford Education Group. Please email him at bprutherford@hotmail.com.