Who Are You After You Retire?

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Who Am I after I retire?

 

Approaching and stepping into retirement is a major transition in anyone’s life. Many people place a heavy emphasis leaning towards the financial aspects of retirement. The significant question they pose to themselves is whether their pension pot is sufficient to sustain them post their retirement.  While this question is valid and worthy of major consideration and exploration to seek out at what age someone might decide to retire it is not the sole serious question which needs addressing.

I recently came across the Retirement Life’s report ‘Retirement in Ireland 2022’. This report highlighted the major concerns that employees had surrounding retirement. Of the six  categories identified being financially secure rated 50%. The second highest major concern at 20% was ‘loss of identity and self-worth’. This overtook health issues at 14%.

‘Loss of identity and self-worth’ belief is something that needs to be addressed. While people may be financially secure be for retirement a significant cohort are not necessarily psychological ready, prepared and/or secure about taking the retirement step.

For us to thrive in our ‘Third Act’, it is essential that we Know Who We Are in life and more importantly at our core. It may be helpful to remember that:

  • The past does not determine the future.
  • We have choice, that we can, with awareness make conscious choices.
  • These choices will greatly influence our living in this Third Act when they are accompanied by congruent supporting actions which resonate with them.
  • We have made spectacular advances in sciences, medicine, and technology in our planet to name but a few. However, in this time that we are living in now our greatest discoveries will focus on an inward journey to ourselves.
  • Knowing who we are involves us connecting with our True Self – understanding and experiencing that we are immense beings that we are a unique part of divinity. We are the co-creators of our life.

 

The focus now is back to us. We have a real chance to reflect and review our life to-date and then choice how we desire to experience of life from here. We can live life with Passion, Power, and Purpose from the best and highest version of ourselves.

Contribution

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‘You were not created just to consume resources, you were put on this earth to make a contribution’

                                                      Mother Teresa

 

Contribution in the main can be viewed as an outward action – something to bestow on society. It is a focus on what we have added and brought to others.  It is about our time on earth, our positive impact and what we are leaving behind for future generations.  These are interesting thoughts and perhaps may raise sombre questions and  may be a stimulus for reflection.

However, there is also an inner action focus to contribution. One of the greatest gifts we can offer is to live life from a state of joy, using of gifts and talents. Living joyfully is not just about having fun. Rather joy is a way of approaching our world, and sharing this state with others.

Avoiding destructive negative thoughts and emotions is important. However, cultivating and developing mind and heart based qualities is essential to living life joyfully. My readings from the Book of Joy (Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu , Douglas Abrams)  have provided excellent guidance for our inner focus through their recommended Eight Pillars equally divided between mind and heart qualities for us to develop. The mind based pillars are those of perception, humility, humour and acceptance; and those heart based ones are forgiveness, gratitude, compassion and generosity.

I am reminded of the words of  Robin Sharma ‘ Success is not a function of the size of your title but the richest of your contribution’.

 

 

Power of W: 3Cs – Conscious Presence, Connection and Contribution

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Power of W: 3Cs Conscious Presence, Connection and Contribution

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In my book Power of W: Women Thriving in Their Third Act, the 3Cs form the central themes to living a fulfilled, meaningful and joyful life experiencing and expressing of unique gifts and talents, living in greater alignment with your Authentic Self.
Conscious Presence – is about living in the present moment rather than being stuck in the past or running off into the future. Make each moment matter.
Connection – all our relationships in our life – from the closest to the greater community.
Contribution – sharing with others and our legacy. Sharing our uniqueness.

Living from this space of the True Self we experience life more wholly; we can achieve more in a relaxed way; and we interact with others in more meaningful, considered, and loving ways. living from this space means that we continue to grow and evolve.

FRIENDSHIPS

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Friendships have their own lifecycle. There is a natural ebb and flow to relationships. What you bring to relationships is important. I am reminded of the Dalai Lama’s quote in the Book of Joy : ‘

The best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other’.

Deep friendships are characterised by the significance you place on them, the degree of sharing and confidence in disclosing both heartfelt joyous and challenging impactful issues. Such exposure and vulnerability may only be facilitated in a few of your relationships, where the level of personal disclosure is respected and honoured. At this level of a relationship time does not have any relevance – nothing matters, only the sacred space created within the pure energy, real and true.

Be Yourself!

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‘To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself’.

Thich Nhat Hanh.

These words take on increasing significance in Our Third Act. It is worth remembering that we are unique beings. Each one of us is one of a kind and no one else can ‘do it’ like we do.

So connect with your passion, power and purpose and shine your unique presence out into your world.