Keeping Your Identity in Post Career Life

Think about all those you work with today. Think about the clients you serve. Think about those to whom you are the client. Think about all the acquaintances in your life, those who you know but would not call a friend.

What do they really know about you?

Now, think about those you have worked with who have retired. How many have you stayed in contact with since they left?

What did you really know about them?

So much of our identity is tied to our vocation. How many times do you get asked, “What do you do for a living?” It’s a common question to begin a conversation.

There are many factors that can cause people to lose their personal identity later in life. Some of the most common include:

• Retirement:?When people retire, they often lose their sense of purpose and identity. They may no longer feel like they are contributing to society or making a difference.
• Loss of a loved one:?The death of a spouse, child, or other loved one can be a devastating experience. It can leave people feeling lost and alone, and it can make it difficult to find meaning in life.
• Serious illness:?A serious illness can also lead to a loss of identity. People who are sick may feel like they are no longer the same person they were before they got sick. They may also lose their ability to do the things they used to enjoy.
• Major life changes:?Other major life changes, such as divorce, moving to a new city, or changing careers, can also lead to a loss of identity. These changes can be stressful and disruptive, and they can make it difficult to adjust to a new way of life.

If you are struggling to cope with a loss of identity, here are some questions to consider.

What’s important to you?

Try to identify what aspects of your identity are important to you. Creating a Life Purpose Statement is a great way to bring clarity.

What are your values?

Ethics, integrity, religion, faith, and spirituality help you look outside yourself to give you standards to apply within yourself.

What are your interests?

Exploring new activities or investing time in existing hobbies keeps you focused in areas that define what brings you joy and contentment.

What makes you unique?

This does not have to be answered alone, seek out family and friends and help them explain to you what makes you distinctive.

Once you have a better understanding of your identity, you can start to affirm or rebuild it. You can find new ways to express yourself, connect with others, and make a difference in the world.

Don’t wait until you leave a professional career to find your identity. Plan it out before you enter post career life. That way you’ll spend the right time living that identity out doing the things you really like.

The Retirement Time Analysis (RTA) gives you a foundation for lifestyle planning. Try it out and get back a complimentary summary assessment. Take the RTA .

The next LIFE BEYOND CAREER workshop is happening April 13, 2023. “Who will I be beyond work?” helps make the unknown more known in your post career life. Take a look .

Understand the time investment you will need to have a solid social network in retirement. Download the Social Network Audit Tool. Get it here .

Get an overview on the art of goal planning as well as a complimentary Life Purpose Statement (PLS) worksheet.

Get to know more about me and why I do what I do. Hi, I am Dave…