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Articles10 Ways to Finding Your True Identity in RetirementThere are definite benefits to having an identity in life. By knowing your identity, you are better able to accomplish your goals, whatever this may be. Well, this is especially true during your retirement years. By knowing who you are and what you need to accomplish in life, you’ll gain a sense of confidence and pride and your life will have precise meaning. You won’t feel as you are living an unfulfilled life. In this brief article, we’ll discuss 10 ways to find your true identity. They are as follows:
In conclusion, retirement is not the end but the beginning. You can find purpose and meaning in your life. By refusing to fade away, maintaining a positive attitude, maintaining a youthful attitude, cultivating a hobby, joining a worthy cause, Non-Financial Planning for RetirementWhen most people think of retirement planning they usually think of “money”. Yes, having enough money to maintain one’s lifestyle is important but also of critical important is the non- financial aspect Many retirees neglect to plan for that aspect. How are you going to spend your time? How are you going to remain satisfied and fulfilled? Are you just going to putt around or are you going to find purposeful and meaningful ways to enjoy the retirement you deserve? Some people enjoy "putting" around and it is OK for awhile. Others become very bored and sometimes become depressed and lonely. Only you know yourself. If you want you have a rich and meaningful retirement I suggest that you start thinking about it now. Revisit some of your dreams that you have put on the backburner because you did not have the time to pursue them. Begin placing them on the front burner of your life and your life can become more joyful, meaningful and purposeful. You don’t have to wait for the day when you finally leave the job, you can begin looking at those DREAMS NOW! START by taking an introspective journey to explore and reactivate those forgotten dreams. If you think that you have accomplished all your dreams then make a list of all you want to be, to do and to have. This will start to trigger some creative thoughts. Practical tips for living the life YOU truly desireDo you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what it takes to change your situation in LIFE? Adopting some or all of the five practices below can make a huge difference.
It has been estimated that up to 80% of our thoughts in any given day are about the past or the future rather than the present. That's a tremendous dilution of energy. Being fully in the present means that you have no thoughts about the past or future. You are fully engaged in what's taking place at this exact moment. I know that you've heard this before and you may have tried meditating and concluded that it isn't your cup of tea. Try again. Some people live in clutter, thrive on noise, and allow themselves to be drained by demanding friends and acquaintances. If any of this sounds familiar, you can do something about this NOW. Clear off your desk, skip television and radio for a week, and distance yourself from those who use you to meet THEIR needs. Everything and every being has its own rhythm. You have yours and I have mine and they are different. There is a secret to developing a sense of pace: Relaxation. Approach everything and everyone in a relaxed manner and you'll be amazed how different it (and they) feel. Seven Habits of Self-Love1. Put yourself and Your Well-being First. This may sound selfish at first glance. But in order for any of us to be happy and supportive and productive employers, workers, husbands, wives, parents or friends, we have to be healthy first! If we are not in good physical, emotional, and spiritual condition, it will be very hard for us to be of good help to the others in our life, professionally or personally. 2. Take steps to eliminate clutter, noise, distractions, and people who drain your energy.. Some people live in clutter, thrive on noise, and allow themselves to be drained by demanding friends and acquaintances. If any of this sounds familiar, you can do something about it NOW. Clear off your desk, skip television and radio for a week, and distance yourself from those who use you to meet their needs. 3. Treat your body as the temple that it is. 4. Spend the month doing something very, very selfish each day. Make a list of things you really want to have or do and have been putting off (don't go over your budget). Then one day at a time JUST DO IT! 5. Learn to be comfortable in your own skin instead of wishing you were in someone else's. 6. Avoid putting everyone's needs before your own. 7. List all of your strengths. Think three positive thoughts about yourself before falling asleep at night and before getting out of bed each morning. Six ways to enhance your life1. Set aside one hour every morning for personal development matters. Meditate, visualize your day, read inspirational texts to se the tone of your day, listen to motivational tapes or read great literature. Starting the day off well is a powerful strategy for self-renewal and personal effectiveness. 2. The quality of your life is the quality of your communication. This means the way you communicate with others and, more importantly, the way you communicate with yourself. What you focus on is what you get. If you look for the positive this is what you get. 3. Light a candle beside you when you are reading in the evening. It is most relaxing and creates a wonderful, soothing atmosphere. 4. Make your home an oasis from the frenzied world outside. Fill it with great music, great books and great friends. 5. Learn to be still. The average person doesn't spend even 30 minutes a month in total silence and tranquility. Develop the skill of sitting quietly, enjoying the powerful silence for at least 10 minutes a day. Simply think about what is important to you in your life. Reflect on your mission. Silence indeed is golden. 6. Associate only with positive focused people who you can learn from and who will not drain your valuable energy with complaining and uninspiring attitudes. By developing relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of the best that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path to the top of whatever mountain you seek to climb. FEARThe very thing that limits us from realizing our dreams or being all that we can be is our own self. The reason we limit ourselves is fear. Fear can either help us, or hinder us, the choice is ours. The way to move beyond fear our own greatness is to believe that we are special. Fear... Our deepest fear It is our light not our darkness Who are you not to be? You are a child of God. We were born to make manifest As we let our own light shine, As we are liberated from our own fear, Marianne Williamson 10 Ways to Transition Yourself into RetirementLet’s be completely honest. Everyone has their own dreams and expectations about retirement. Upon retirement, some folks plan to travel around the world while others simply plan to take excursions to their local beach. Whatever the retirement plan that you may have, being able to implement your goals takes a certain degree of financial security. The problem however is that financial security does not just happen but requires careful planning, commitment and yes, money. To be a successful retiree, you must successfully transition yourself into retirement in order to meet your retirement objectives. In addition, you have to plan the amount of money you need and what you want to accomplish with your savings. After all, you’ll likely spend 35+ years in retirement so you must start planning now. In this article, we will discuss 10 ways that you can successfully transition yourself into retirement. They are as follows: 1. Debt Reduction - Make sure that you do not carry your debts into retirement. Therefore, commit yourself to paying off as much of your debts as you possibly can. Eliminate car payments, credit card debts, personal loans, etc. Do what you have to do now to squash debt and make sure that you don’t obtain any new debts either. 2. Have a Nest Egg of Emergency Funds - Have enough liquid funds in hand to cover at least a few months of expenses, without eating into your investments. Be prepared for the unexpected expenses while you transition into retirement. After all, emergencies will certainly come up but if you have a certain amount of savings, you won’t have to worry about them. 3. Adequate Insurance Coverage - Make sure that you have adequate insurance to cover your life, health, homeowners', and auto insurance policies. Reassess your insurance needs on a yearly basis to ensure that they suit your retirement needs. Be open to making changes as needed and check out your employer’s retirement coverage. Many of folks have been unpleasantly surprised to learn that their employers will no longer cover their medical expenses after they retire. So, if you find out now, you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family. 4. Retirement Income Plan - To ensure that you don’t outlive your assets, develop a retirement income plan that includes your income and expenses. Keep track of your current expenses and cut back as needed. 5. Social Security Benefits - The rules for benefits are rather complex, so talk to a Social Security representative a year before you plan to retire. By doing this, you’ll be able to understand your benefits and how much you’re covered. In addition, you should apply for social security three months before you want to start collecting your benefits or three months before your 65th birthday. 6. Contribute to a Savings Plan - If your employer offers a tax-sheltered savings plan (such as a 401K), make sure that you contribute as much as you can. Not only will this substantially lower your taxes but will also make huge difference in your financial security due to the magic of compounded interest. 7. Review Wills and Trusts - Make sure that you have a valid will and/or trust. Not only will this protect your assets but will give you peace of mind. 8. Invest in IRA - By putting money in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you’ll cleverly delay paying taxes on investment earnings. If you invest $2,000 in IRA at 4% when you are 30, it will grow to $112,170 by the time you are 60. Now that’s a lot of moola for simply being smart! 9. Follow Basic Investment Principles - Just remember that how much you have for retirement depends on the type of investments you make now. Learn how to multiply your savings using mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc. Consult a financial advisor for additional information. 10. Know About Medicare - Find out when it is appropriate to apply for Medicare and then apply. The Medicare application process and premiums may vary, depending on your age and whether or not you are receiving Social Security by being aware of the type of Medicare you may qualify, you’ll be ahead of the game. For instance, the two parts of Medicare are:
Follow our suggested ten steps and you’ll not only improve your mental health but you’ll also transition yourself into a happy and financially secure retirement. Five Tips to Design Your LegacyBy definition, a legacy is something that comes down to someone from a predecessor or from the past. Most of us want to leave behind some kind of legacy for our children and grandchildren, or for future generations. Many people think of a legacy only in terms of some financial bequest or gift. Those with the means to do so might build a wing on a hospital or fund a professorship or a scholarship. And these are wonderful and meaningful ways to leave behind a legacy. But a legacy can mean many things besides money or endowed professorships or hospital wings. A legacy can also be wisdom or a contagious commitment to improving the community, or even the story of our lives – the good times and the bad times – and the important life lessons we learned. Some people simply want to try to teach future generations so they will not make the same mistakes. There are many ways to leave a meaningful legacy, even if you are not wealthy. Here are a few ideas to start your thinking about the kind of legacy you might want to leave behind.
Each of us is a link in the chain of life. Every part of the legacy we leave behind keeps a chain intact. The parts of the legacy we don’t pass on may be lost forever. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you did for a living, you are a unique and important individual. Your experience matters. As you design your personal legacy, don’t forget to pass on the extremely important intangibles that give life true meaning. Happiness in Retirement is not an AccidentFinding or achieving happiness in retirement is not an accident. I am constantly surprised by the number of persons who worked and planned for their happiness both at home and at work, but somehow believe happiness in retirement is automatic. In fact, thousands of persons who retire each year are anything but happy in three or six months. As Anne Frank wrote, “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” Of course we all want to be happy. Some people just have strange ways of trying to achieve happiness. Some believe that happiness will be found in things. Some believe happiness is tied to certain other persons. Some believe happiness lies in being able to do exactly what we want, when we want. And there are some who believe that people are either born happy or born unhappy. To the best of my knowledge, there is no “happiness gene.” Happiness comes to those who learn to be at peace with themselves in any circumstances, finding happiness within themselves, not in externals. There is no doubt that strong relationships contribute to our happiness. Most of us feel happiest when we are with other with whom we share interests and values. But even then, our happiness ultimately comes from knowing who we are and being comfortable with ourselves and our world. I believe there are certain keys to personal happiness. I believe we need to know who we are, what we believe, what is important to us, and how we can move toward the achievement of our dreams. I also believe that happiness requires some semblance of balance in our lives. We need to balance the things we must do with the things we yearn to do. We need to balance work and play. We need time alone and time with others. We also need goals and dreams. We need things to which we aspire and things we are compelled to accomplish. This, it seems to me, is the foundation for a happy life in retirement. In retirement, we can be happy or we can be miserable. Misery may just happen to us. But happiness never will just happen. I am convinced that an unhappy or miserable retirement is the result of a lack of planning and preparation for what could be the best years of our lives. Bertrand Russell once wrote, “The happiness that is genuinely satisfying is accompanied by the fullest exercise of our faculties and the fullest realization of the world in which we live.” I can only imagine what a joyful place the world would be if every retiree lived the second phase of their lives with the fullest exercise of their faculties and the fullest realization of the world in which we live. If each retiree approached retirement living with the commitment to planning and preparing for retirement happiness through introspection, planning, and balancing their lives, the world could quickly become a much better place for them and for those around them. I know retirement can be a happy, rewarding, fulfilling and happy time. I know this because I am living that happy retirement right now. Stay Connected in RetirementYou’ve probably heard it said about getting ahead in life that “it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know.” While there is a certain amount of truth to that claim, I can assure you there is a great deal of truth in this statement: “Happiness depends on your ability to stay connected in retirement.” Quite simply, numerous studies show that people who withdraw from life and from connections with others are not only miserable in their retirement years, but they tend to die sooner than people you stay connected in retirement. It is always easy to postpone doing things; and this doesn’t change when we retire. Staying connected is one of the most important things people need to do after retiring. Fortunately, this is not difficult. No matter how shy you are, and no matter how much of a loner you are, you need to stay connected to life, to the world, and to at least one or two other people. We don’t have to become isolated or lonely in retirement. We just need to stay connected. Here are a few ideas to help you stay connected: Consistently watch one news broadcast each day at least. This is one way to stay informed about the world and your community. It also gives you topics for conversation with other people. Keeping up with the news also keeps you informed of new developments and the like that can make your life better. Have a conversation with at least one person who is important to you each day. It really doesn’t matter so much whether the conversation occurs over the telephone or face to face. The important thing is to stay in conversation with someone every day. Whether you discuss world news or childhood memories, the conversation is good for you. Write a letter (not an e-mail) to someone each week. Take the time to actually connect with someone by taking the time to sit down and write a long letter. Write about what is happening in your life, your family, your thoughts, and your feelings. Not only will the letter brighten someone else’s life, you will probably receive a response that will brighten your life. Find an exercise buddy. We all need exercise. Whether you choose to walk or engage in some other physical activity for exercise, it will be more fun if you share the experience with a friend. You can discuss many things on a daily walk, or even at a pool or a gym or spa. Volunteer to help others. There are many people around us who need help with things. There are people whose only contact with others is a conversation with the meals-on-wheels delivery person. There are children who need to be taught or just need to be loved. There are many organizations that rely upon volunteers to carry out their mission. Not only will you stay connected with other people, you will know you have done something to help someone, and that will feel good. Join a group or club. Regular get-togethers with other people who enjoy the same things you do, are great fun. Whether you play cards, mah jong, dominoes, chess, checkers or bunko; whether you share bird watching experiences or take in a movie or a show together, you are spending time in conversation with people with whom you share interests. Remain or become active in your church, synagogue or mosque. You can be assured that you share basic beliefs and values with the people you meet there. You will also find ways to help others, teach others, and contribute to a better world. Learn to do something new. Whether you take computer classes, dancing lessons, or you audit a course at the local college, learning something new keeps your mind sharp, puts you in contact with others who have similar interests, and opens up new possibilities for social, business or educational activities in the future. Try these tips to become connected and stay connected in retirement. You will be happier, healthier, and you can make a positive impact on the lives of others.
INSPIRING QUOTES “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” -- Albert Einstein “Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.” -- Anais Nin “Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect. . .” “Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others.” “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
For more information contact Dr. Cynthia Barnett
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