Building happiness into your retirement plan
Living your life on purpose
If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning, torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savour the world. That makes it hard to plan the day. E.B. White
Consider the happy people you know. If there are fewer than your fingers on one hand, consider why so few people you know are happy. Could it be that people lack a purpose for their lives? Leider and Shapiro (2008) propose that purpose is essential to deep joy. If you lose your reason to get up in the morning, they suggest, this loss could be the start of your decline. When purpose dies, vitality dies – and even if no one else notices, you will. Living on purpose means both saving and savouring the world. Both are essential to your vitality. What is your reason for getting up in the morning? Are you savouring and enjoying your life? Or do you have a reason larger than your own needs and desires? Are you living a purposeful life that engages you in working and bringing happiness to yourself and to others?
Bring your wisdom into your plan
Before the information age, even before books existed, much less the internet and social networking sites and applications, there was wisdom and wisdom was held by the elders of the society. The elders were those who had lived long enough to experience and then teach others about the essentials to surviving and thriving. Elders had the role of developing their knowledge in the hearts and minds of the next generation.
Today knowledge is held in a diversity of environments and accessible to many more people besides the elders in society. But is knowledge wisdom? Elders know more than data and facts. They know about the context of successful living. Wisdom moves slowly because it takes a lifetime to acquire and there are no shortcuts. The information and technology revolution has not diminished our need for you as elders; indeed the revolution has accelerated the need for wise older voices in the world. Many organisations, such as COTA with its Green Project, are marshalling elders to be heard with regard to sustainability in community environments.
Finding a life of passion and joy as you grow older
Erikson (1964) described eight phases of maturity and believed that a later life task is that of achieving integrity. Integrity describes a person who demonstrates a fit between what he says he does and what he actually does. A person of integrity lives a whole life. This later stage of your life is also referred to as becoming generative. You may be seen as showing vitality, passion and humour as you grow older. You show your wisdom as you share your stories and provide insight into your experience and its relevance for the next generation. Your story telling is about how you are saving and savouring the world. Beneath the stories is your revealing your way of being in the world combined with your generosity, of spirit and your time.
You know about the things that matter and achieving your final purpose is that of bringing happiness to the world. Some people may not be able to either save or savour their worlds. They may be driven to find their purpose rather than exist in limbo. Becoming generative in the second half of life becomes the ultimate test for whether you have happiness, as you grow older.
Where do I start?
If you wish to reflect on this wisdom you have, think about a younger person who may benefit from this wisdom. It may be your child, a relative or friend’s child, or, for this exercise, an imaginary child. The person is someone with whom you feel a connection that is wholehearted and authentic.
You are encouraged to help clarify what it is about the wisdom you want to share and give to others. Write a letter to this person. Write with the hope that you are clarifying that elusive topic of wisdom, that purpose you seek in your life to bring you happiness. Letter writing may be a dying art but consider the exercise as a reflective space to explore your purpose for living – saving the world. You don’t have to handwrite the letter – create it on your computer so that you can print it out. Leider and Shapiro suggest you try to come from your own experience rather than telling your reader what he or she should do. You are urged to use the letter as an opportunity for your self-discovery, rather than providing solemn advice.
Can you work through these steps on your own?
Are you ready for this reflective activity? Are you confident to make a start on your self-discovery through letter writing? What if help were available to get you started and moving towards your life purpose?
Contact us for a complimentary consultation to focus on this audit. We work with you to discover what you want for your life as you grow and develop. It will be the best 30 minutes you spend to get started on leading your life on purpose.
References
Erikson, E 1964, Childhood and Society, Hogarth Press, New York.
Leider, RJ & Shapiro, DA 2008, Something to live for: Finding your way in the second half of life, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco.
© 2010 Helene Strawbridge, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the Second Half Success material in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read: By Helene Strawbridge of Second Half Success. Please visit Helene’s web site at www.secondhalfsuccess.com.au for additional articles and resources. (Make sure the link is live if placed in an newsletter or in a web site.)
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