Find Out Who You Really Are
If you’ve browsed through the pages of this website at all, you know how strongly I feel that retirement should be the happiest time of your life. I meet people all the time who tell me that they’re bored in retirement and that they watch television all day. There’s nothing wrong with television but, if that’s all you do and you do it without a purpose, you’re missing one of the great secrets about finding happiness in your life. You need to find out who you really are and what makes you happy. It’s not a question that should be answered casually and it’s something that surprises almost everyone when they take the time to do this carefully. I feel so strongly about this that I developed a process that I call The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement and it’s designed to help you examine the significant moments in your life that shaped who you are today. You weren’t your job despite what you think or what you did or how much time you spent doing it. Although it may have been the most significant part of your existence, there were probably factors that made it that way that are related to what makes you happy in life and what gives you satisfaction. For the people I meet who really miss their jobs, I have found that when they understand what they really liked about their working careers, they are much more likely to find a substitute activity. They realize that there was a purpose in their profession and they were very fulfilled when they were able to perform that job well. We all need a sense of purpose, even in the hobbies we pursue. Just ask anyone who has taken up the game of chess to see how challenging it can be. I have books on the subject from my high school years that I still might get back to some day. And, that's the whole point - when you have activities that you want to pursue further, your life becomes more interesting almost immediately.
When you find out who you really are, it can lead to a more fulfilling retirement.
We are all the product of our experiences and when you achieve six decades or more of living, the fact is that we have been shaped in more ways than we know. It’s worth the time to reflect on all the dreams that you had through life, the triumphs and the disappointments and the things you once held dear but have put off to the sidelines. In fact, that last category might be the most interesting of all and taking the time to recall those activities or fantasies is a big part of sitting down to find out who you really are and what gets you excited in life. It’s amazing what happens to some people when they do this, and the results can turn a boring retirement into a calendar that’s packed with activities that you can’t wait to start. People learn new skills and even go back to college during their retirement years to pursue something that had interested them when they were younger. Do you know how many “want to be” Marine Biologists have started to volunteer at their local aquarium? Do you know how many children who dreamed about being fighter pilots have learned to fly drones? There are kids who never quite achieved their dream of being a veterinarian who are volunteering at an animal shelter or hospital during their retirement years and are enjoying every minute of it.
People have gone back to the hobbies of their youth and seemed to become kids again in their outlook on life. A friend of mine used to have a huge train layout when he was a kid and he’s gone back to the memories of his youth and created a whole town with scenery that must have taken years to complete. There is something hidden in the past for almost everyone and there is a creative streak that is dying to come to life. Retirement is to find out who you really are and continue with that dream that might have been put aside as your life began to unfold. Did you ever want to write a novel or take up painting or even learn an instrument? Go ahead and do it. There is nothing stopping you but YOU. Don’t worry about what others might think. This is YOUR life and you only get one so make it the best that you can. Start a list of dreams that still hold an attraction for you and start to create your new retirement lifestyle. The sad reality is that we’re all running out of time but best thing we have in our favor is that we are the ones who can make changes to our life at any time. And today is a good day to get started so go ahead and take the first step. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. You’re never too old to discover something new about yourself!
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