Living a life worth living

How do I make my life meaningful?

I don’t mind getting old. As I say, ageing doesn’t bother me as long as I have reason to believe that I am maturing.                                                                              Viktor Frankl

Now that you are in your second half, what are you doing next? At this time you are likely to be financially stable if not secure. You may be seeking something more than survival now; perhaps a hunger for more meaningful work and living a life on purpose.   The difference between making a living and making a life may be your focus now. I

t seems ironic, in the 21 st century where people have never been more connected by technology, that many feel isolated, even alone in a crowd. Each of you has a special gift or contribution to which you alone live life – that unique trait or characteristic your loved ones will miss most deeply when you are gone. It’s that special something that most naturally define you, the gift you naturally and wholeheartedly give away in all you do.

Reflect on what this characteristic is, that will be your lasting legacy. Is it your sense of humour, the ability to defuse a tense or angry situation? It may be your innate ability to draw people out and use your listening skills to hear their story, their pain and share their joy. You can know this gift by how you feel when you share it – leading to fulfilment and satisfaction in your life.

Understanding your connection to others


One of the main tools you have, to retain your sense of joy and vitality into old age, is your capacity to appreciate that life is fleeting, that all things pass. What makes you mad, such as bad behaviour in traffic, drifts into insignificance as you appreciate that this behaviour too will pass. Don’t be preoccupied with what upsets you, focus more on what connects you to yourself and others.

Start with a review of your connections to others. Are there friendships or family connections lost because of misunderstanding or even inaction? Is it possible that a phone call or letter may be all it takes to rebuild those meaningful connections? Consider that some of these actions may become more urgent as you age. There is some inevitable decline in your physical well being but your capacity for mental activity does not decline.


Developing your creativity


Increasing your creativity and mental activity depends on your willingness to try new activities. One way to practice is to have one creative thought a day. Not necessarily a thought that is profound; rather it may be a new way of viewing political actions, or cooking an old recipe with different ingredients. Practice another way of looking at and even doing what you have thought about or done in a different way.

Take some time to review and refine this idea, that this principle of creativity and curiosity leads to your growth. Look at that bookcase that you have not referenced for years. What can you give away or share with others, and make space for new readings and ideas? The ultimate goal is to translate these new ideas into action, to share with others, and to contribute to your wider community.

Getting into action


You may have read of the   work of Habitat for Humanity. The mission statement of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty and homelessness the world over  and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Each person who participates in Habitat’s projects can legitimately be said to be taking part in eliminating poverty. Yet they all say that what they contribute is more than what they give.

Do not diminish your own contributions. Some people in the second half of life stop contributing to causes they believe in because they regard their time as passed, that they no longer have anything of value to offer. Beware of these thoughts becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, that what you think may happen, does happen. Rather, do not be paralyzed by what you think you cannot do; rather take those small steps to contributing your unique gifts – your lasting legacy.

For example, think about how you work and have contact with people from other generations. Are you the older person who grumbles about how things were in your day? Or are you the older person who protests with younger generations about the state of local bicycle paths that you both enjoy?

What about your own options for living a life of meaning and purpose?


What are your special gifts to develop and share with others? Are you engaged with other age groups than your own, in both professional and leisure activities? What are your plans for living a worthy life?  What if you need some help?

Contact us for a complimentary consultation to focus on being and staying connected to others. We work with you to discover what you want for your life and how to transition to a life of meaning and purpose. It will be the best 30 minutes you spend to get started.

What about completing a transition assessment that provides an indication of your readiness for a life after working full-time?   Click here to complete the assessment.

Reference

Leider, RJ & Shapiro, DA 2008, Something to live for: finding your way in the second half of life, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco.

© 2011 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.)