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.”
Identity:
“Fear of losing my identity created over a lifetime.”
“People do not see you anymore.”
“Feelings of rejection — internalized, not voiced.”
"You can retire from your career, but you can’t retire from life."
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:
Are you doing an activity that you love?
Are you good at it?
Does the world need what you offer?
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:
Does the activity allow you to start small and improve over time?
Does the activity allow you to release yourself?
Does the activity pursue harmony and sustainability?
Does the activity allow you to enjoy the little things?
Does the activity allow you to focus on the here and now?
Photos courtesy Unsplash
Perfect timing!
Many people are retiring at this time of the year and this advice will help many. I worked with a Secret Service team of five investigators.
Rebecca Simpson and Jessica Fukishura were the first to announce their retirement and I knew work would never be the same. Rebecca opened her own investigation service in Santa Barbara with her life partner Dr. Penelope Barker. The three kind of created a domino effect but I was like what is mentioned above, I had no idea what to do or if I could retire early.
As it turned out I could leave early with full benefits thanks to Jessica's interceding and I joined their firm along with Jason Spencer.
Check out your options early so you are don't put yourself in the predicament I was in.