12 Ways To Respond To The Question You Just Gotta Answer

Your answer can be the greatest gift of your life

Now what?

How many times have you asked this question?

How many times did you seriously try to come up with the answer?

The answer may be the biggest gift of your life.

It has been for me.

By answering it I discovered my New Way Forward and I am loving it.

I keep hearing from people ranging in age from 30 to 78 who are asking themselves, “Now what”.

They ask, “Paul, how did you answer that question and find a great answer?”

Read on to find out.

It happens to all of us

The question often comes up when facing a big change in life.

You get fired or laid off.

The kids leave the nest for good.

A relationship ends.

You lose someone close to you.

You hate your job or your life.

You’re ready for something better in life.

A thousand other life happenings can trigger the question.

Now what?

Answering “Now what?”

For me and Kim, it started when both of our sons were off to college.

Now what?

For me, it was also wanting to ditch my current career.

For Kim, as a stay-at-home mom, it was the loss of a career.

Now what?

Oh, and then there’s the fact I am “older”, so I wondered what am I going to do with my life in this phase.

Income, lifestyle, purpose and what to do with the multiple decades of healthy and active life ahead (because I take good care of myself) left me seeking answers to:

“What do I do?”

“What do I want to do?”

“What do I need to do?”

“What can I do?”

“What are the opportunities for someone my age?”

“How can I transition to something ideal for me?”

“What would that be?”

“How can I still be relevant?”

“How can I be fulfilled?”

“What’s my purpose?”

“What about my legacy?”

“Am I the only one stuck on this?”

There is an amazing answer out there that’s ideal for you

Whatever your adult age know this, there is an answer. An answer that is truly right for you.

The thing is you gotta pursue the answer.

Upon my recent birthday, I realized I am happier, more fulfilled, more passionate about my new purpose and more excited about my New Way Forward in life (which isn’t “retirement but rather a new endeavor) than I was 30 years ago.

Because I put in the effort and found my answer.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Max Planck

That quote by Plank cycled through my head (magically) throughout my process to discover my New Way Forward in life.

This was a blessing because it made me realize that if I really wanted to discover the ideal path for me, I needed to change the way I looked at myself, life and opportunities.

It wasn’t easy but nor was it hard. It took some focus and awareness.

It took some new ways of thinking and how I looked at things.

From research and trial and error, I followed the following 12 steps to find my answer.

1.????? Just asking?this question is a major first step and a call to action for your mind, imagination, self-awareness, hopes and dreams.

Realize this. Embrace this. Pursue this.

2.???? Where attention goes, energy & focus flows.?By putting in the effort and time your mind will kick into a new gear, and you will start thinking, realizing and imaging without any effort (but keep up a focused effort as well).

Expect answers and realizations to come out of nowhere and be tuned into recognizing and embracing them. Some will be huge, some subtle.

Some you may not like but remember, this is you talking to you.

3.???? Set aside 15-minute daily time periods to think about this. Be somewhere quiet and isolated. Actually, think about what you want the answer to be. Daydream and imagine. Explore and notice your feelings, needs, desires and dislikes.

You can do this with meditation or anytime you don’t have to seriously focus on something else. You can even have a verbal conversation with yourself (having to verbalize your thoughts is highly beneficial).

This is also how you kick in the power of intention which is huge.

By focusing on this for several days you are rewiring your brain forming new neural pathways. Your reticular activating system will start recognizing new things, creating new insights and ideas and connect all the dots for you.

4. Read and listen.?Whether it’s YouTube, Substack, podcasts, books, articles or any other media, there is a prolific amount of insight, information, motivation, possibilities and how-to’s out there.

Whatever you’re going through or trying to do, someone else has done it, succeeded and has shared how they did it.

So with that said, allow me to offer all of my material on Substack, YouTube and my site).

5.?Knowing that it’s YOUR turn?is a great thought starter for what to do next. Maybe you have done what you were supposed to do all of your life and now is the chance to do what you want to do.

As long as you have to “pivot” in order to earn an income for instance, why not pivot in a direction that’s fulfilling, exciting and right for you?

There is no better time in life to discover what is ideal for you than when you get “older” because you know so much about life, the world and yourself.

It’s your turn to have the life you deserve.

6.? Know what you really, really want and need. This can be challenging, but I found a great solution.

I reduced my needs, wants and desires to the absolute ground floor basics.

I considered how, in my New Way Forward, I wanted to feel every morning when I awakened.

Here is my list.

• I woke up (Yeah, very basic by critical).
• I feel great. I’m in fantastic health and fully capable of executing and enjoying my New Way Forward.
• I love what I am doing. I am fulfilled, happy, relevant, profitable, making an impact and passionate about my purpose.
• I am excited about the day ahead.
• I don’t need to worry about money. We have all we need.

I was surprised at how big a difference this made. This was the litmus test and filter for everything I would consider. Everything I thought about had to fulfill these intentions.

Oh, and by the way, I am waking up every morning living the first four (except one day when I had to start prepping for a colonoscopy) and the fifth one about money is OK and getting better.

7. Write a thank you note from your “older” self to your current self.?This has turned out to be one of the best things I ever came up with.

By considering what my 95-year-old self would thank me for doing now, I identified what I should do to have the life I wanted and needed.

It all became so clear. This is thinking from the end.

8. “Avoiding the ultimate regret.”?This plays off of #7.

Often in their final dying moments, the greatest regret people have is that they didn’t go for it and didn’t live the life that was right for them.

They had an idea or a calling and, for whatever reason, they didn’t go for it.

Imagine yourself in your final moments of life.

What would you regret not doing with your life? That answer may be an even bigger answer of what to pursue.

9. What about income??There are more possibilities and ways of making money than you may imagine whether it’s a job, freelancing or starting something up.

The entire concept of employment or earning an income is radically changing.

In terms of employment, while ageism is a major problem for those over 50 (even 40) there is a major shift happening for the better and intergenerational workforces are becoming the next hot best practice.

Not interested in a job? Never before in human history have circumstances been better to start a business and the array of?types?of business is huge. The resources to help you are substantial.

Solopreneurship is one of the hottest growth areas out there for instance.

There are nearly the same number of people over 50 as there are millennials doing gig work (e.g., freelance, contracting, consulting, etc.)

Think you’re too old? Boomers start more businesses in the U.S. than millennials and have a higher rate of success.

10. Move your butt and get healthier. Exercise will improve your thinking, make your feel good and help you with the process of change.

It doesn’t take much. I completely changed my health for the better with just baby steps. One new little healthy thing each day turned into many and the baby step into leaps and bounds.

Exercise (aerobic and resistance) does more than strengthen. It triggers all sorts of amazing changes in your body and your brain chemistry.

A favorite for “figuring things out” is to hike in nature.

11. Have an open mind, a new mindset and explore.

Start researching how to use your experience and talents to your advantage and discover the new types of opportunities that are out there that align with your core needs and desires.

Tie them to the basic needs, wants and desires you’ve identified.

Avoid thinking conventionally because convention is a dead thing of the past.

Also, your New Way Forward doesn’t have to be about earning money.

But do make absolutely sure you can afford the extended health and life span that’s available.

12. “What if I don’t have any ideas?”

Serial entrepreneur and “disruptor” Jay Samit?offers a great and easy approach to finding a great idea.

Over the next 30 days before you go to bed write down three big thoughts or realizations you had during the day.

If you’re looking to start up a business or go solo, then write down three problems and needs people have that you noticed.

This does two things: 1) It further helps you put focus on finding answers and realizations. 2) After 30 days (or sooner) you will find one or more things that stick with you.

If they’re ideas or realizations that are sticking, those are the things to notice and embrace.

Put in the time, effort, intention and patience

There is a chance you may get the right answers almost right away.

Odds are, this is going to take time and effort.

Either way, it’s worth it.

Hey! It’s your life, dammit.

Hey! It’s your turn (and it’s always your turn as Seth Godin would say).

Don’t blow it.

Wondering “Now what?” is an opportunity.

Answering it can be the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Find more content like this on my Substack page.

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