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https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/15/67-year-old-who-unretired-at-62-shares-the-biggest-retirement-challenge-that-no-one-talks-about.html?utm_content=Main
A 67-year-old who
‘un-retired’ shares the biggest retirement challenge ‘that no one talks
about’
Published Wed, Jun 15 2022 10:40 AM
EDT Updated Wed, Jun 15 2022 4:59 PM EDT
George Jerjian, Contributor@GEORGEJERJIAN
In
2007, at age 52, I was forced to retire overnight. An MRI had revealed a
tumor, the size of a large eggplant, sitting on my pelvis. In 98% of these
cases, my oncologist told me, bone tumors are secondary cancer. He estimated
that I had about six months to live.
But
after two successful operations, I took a few months to recuperate on
crutches and learn how to walk again. After my near-death experience, I had
been in retirement for 10 years. I found myself bored, restless and stuck. My
enthusiasm and energy diminished. My mental health suffered.
No
one else I knew who was retired told me these were things I might experience.
But when I shared with them how I felt, they admitted to feeling the same way
at times.
That’s
when I decided to “un-retire” and launch a mindset
coaching company to help people achieve a more fulfilling
retirement than I had.
The biggest
challenge of retirement
Retirement
means different things to different people. I did a deep survey of more than
15,000 retirees over the age of 60, and asked them one question:
“What is your single biggest challenge in retirement?”
Below
is a small selection of responses I received under the most cited categories:
Regret:
· “I
miss doing the work that I love.”
· “I
don’t think retiring is for me. I want to go back to teaching.”
· “I’m
not sure what to do with my time. I feel lost.”
Health:
· “Keeping
my mind healthy and adding value to the world.”
· “Fear
of dying in pain and discomfort.”
· “When
you’re 70 with a heart condition, you don’t get that many more bites at the
apple.”
Identity:
· “Fear
of losing my identity created over a lifetime.”
· “People
do not see you anymore.”
· “Feelings
of rejection — internalized, not voiced.”
Here’s
what this tells us: The biggest retirement challenge that no one talks about,
in my experience, is finding purpose.
Sure,
money is certainly a concern. “I have a fear of poverty and losing dignity,”
one person said. Another wrote: “Money goes out, nothing comes in.” But
surprisingly, financial worries weren’t among the top three in the list.
People
often confuse retirement savings with retirement planning. But these are two
different concepts. Google the words “retirement planning” and you’ll mostly
see, for pages and pages, savings-and pension-related content.
There
is nothing on actual retirement planning, which I believe is
more about your life, and less about money. Having steady finances to last
you throughout retirement plays a significant role in quality of life, but
what’s more important is your life-planning.
In
other words, what is it that you are going to do once you leave the
workforce? You can retire from your career, but you can’t retire from
life.
Finding purpose
leads to a more meaningful, healthier life
In
the same survey, I asked how people thought they might solve their
challenges. A full 35% believed that the answer is in finding purpose in life
through a new skill or interest.
In
fact, a 2021 study of 12,825 adults over the age of 51 published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology associated a strong
purpose in life with healthier lifestyle behaviors and slower rates of
progression of chronic illnesses.
Finding
purpose can also help retirees find new side hustle opportunities that bring
in income, helping to ease financial concerns.
How a Japanese
concept saved me from a depressing retirement
I’ve
helped countless retirees find their purpose. They didn’t go back to work in
the traditional 9-to-5 sense, but they set up new businesses, consulted,
volunteered and took on hobbies that brought them joy and satisfaction.
To
identify what activities brought me purpose, I referenced the Japanese
concept of “ikigai,” which translates to “your reason for being.”
How
to Find Your Ikigai George Jerjian
| CNBC Make It
The
Westernized version of this concept is based on the idea that there are four
components a person must have complete to achieve ikigai.
Each
concept is represented by a question. As you actively pursue
what you enjoy doing in service of yourself, your family, and your community,
think about whether that activity allows you to answer “yes” to any
combination of those four questions:
1.
Are you doing an activity that you
love?
2.
Are you good at it?
3.
Does the world need what you offer?
4.
Can you get paid for doing it?
Japanese
neuroscientist and happiness expert Ken Mogi also
suggests considering if the activity has the five pillars that further allow
your ikigai to thrive:
1.
Does the activity allow you to start
small and improve over time?
2.
Does the activity allow you to release
yourself?
3.
Does the activity pursue harmony and
sustainability?
4.
Does the activity allow you to enjoy
the little things?
5.
Does the activity allow you to focus on
the here and now?
On
a deeper level, ikigai refers to the emotional circumstances under
which individuals feel that their lives are valuable as they move towards
their goals.
As
for me, I’ve found that my purpose now is to help retirees “un-retire” and
create a new life for themselves. Depending on when you plan to retire, you
may have another 30, 40, 50 or more years of life — and that’s a hell of a
long time to drift aimlessly.
George Jerjian is
the author of “Dare to Discover Your Purpose: Retire, Refire, Rewire.” An
Emmy-award-winning producer and author of 10 books, he earned his business
degree from Bradford University in England and a master’s degree in
Journalism from New York University. Follow him on Twitter @GeorgeJerjian.
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