Finding Our Way: Conversations on Life After Work

Retirement isn't just about financial planning — it's also about maintaining healthy relationships, whether you're partnered or flying solo. In this episode of Finding Our Way, we explore how retirement impacts relationships, common challenges faced, and practical exercises to enhance communication and connection during this new phase of life.In this episode:

• How retirement can change the dynamics of your partnership and the concept of the "seasons" of marriage, inspired by Dr. Gary Chapman

• The rise of "gray divorce" and factors contributing to long-term relationship dissolutions post-retirement

• The importance of open communication and exercises like the assumptions and expectations assessment to prepare for retirement together

• Strategies for maintaining intimacy and connection, including understanding each other's love languages and relationship seasons

• Challenges faced by singles in retirement, including managing expectations and establishing personal boundaries

• How to assess personal satisfaction and future goals in one's happiness portfolio, whether single or partnered

• Tips for dating in later life: knowing your needs, setting boundaries, and the importance of self-awareness

• The significance of good communication skills, active listening, and vulnerability in sustaining meaningful relationships after work.

Resources & Links:

• Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement by Marianne Osher (search for the exact title and author on Amazon)

• The Four Seasons of Marriage by Dr. Gary Chapman

• Retirement and Be Happy Assumption Download

• Nancy Sloshberg's Story

Connect with the Hosts:

[email protected]

This episode explores the multifaceted role of work in retirement, emphasizing intentionality and fulfillment beyond just staying busy. We discuss how to assess your personal motivations and match them to the types of work that bring purpose and joy.Key Topics:

• The concept of the happiness portfolio and its key components

• Eight areas beyond finances that influence a fulfilling retirement life

• Four types of working retirees based on motivations and satisfaction

• Challenges in returning to work, like clarity of purpose and effective contribution

• Practical tips for retooling skills and exploring encore career options

• The importance of aligning work with personal values and lifestyle goals

• Strategies for transitioning from traditional employment to part-time or volunteer roles

• The significance of maintaining current knowledge and re-engaging with new skills

• How expectations and industry-specific factors impact work beyond retirement

• Encouragement to approach career exploration with curiosity and self-compassion

• Encore.org - Connect with encore career opportunities

• Idealist.org - Volunteer and job options for retirees

• The Muse - Career quizzes and ideas for encore careers

• BrainSpan.org - Learning new skills for mature learners

• RetireandBeHappy.com/action-plan - Free downloadable form for action steps

Connect with the speakers:

• [email protected]

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Remember: The journey to fulfilling work in retirement is a process rooted in curiosity and self-awareness. Take small steps, enjoy exploring new possibilities, and prioritize what aligns with your happiness.

• Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement – Marianne Oehser

Discover actionable strategies to craft a meaningful and joyful retirement with Marianne Osher, author of Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement. This episode explores how planning, purpose, and understanding personal values can turn retirement into your best chapter.Main Topics Covered:

• The importance of actively planning for retirement beyond finances

• How to identify and cultivate your purpose in post-career life

• The role of relationships and personal values in creating happiness

• Practical tools like purpose cards and sticky notes to discover your life's direction

• Common myths about retirement and the importance of intentionality

• How to communicate and align expectations with your partner before retirement

• The concept of "calling" and its significance in personal fulfillment

• The significance of self-awareness and continuous self-development in retirement

• Insights from research on happiness, purpose, and maintaining strong relationships

• stories

Resources & Links:

• Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement – Marianne Osher

• Next Chapter Lifestyle Advisors

• Richard Leiter’s site on purpose and calling ~ Purpose and Calling Tools

• Madly in Love with Me– Book about self-love and purpose

Connect with Marianne Osher:

Nextchapterlifestyleadvisors.com

Marianne@nextchapterlifestyleadvisors

Discover how purpose and meaning can be rediscovered and even deepened in retirement. This episode explores the roles of gifts, passions, values, and purpose statements in creating a fulfilling post-career life, with practical exercises and heartfelt insights from three sisters navigating this new chapter.

• The difference between purpose and meaning, and how they evolve in retirement

• The four pillars of meaning: belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence

• How to identify your gifts, passions, and values to craft a personal purpose statement

• The health and happiness benefits of purposeful living

• Practical exercises for discovering what is meaningful to you

• The importance of growth, grace, and flexibility on the journey to finding your purpose

• Your Happiness Profile for Retirement by Marianne Osher (search for the book for purchase details)

• The Power of Meaning by Emily Fahony-Smith

• [Richard Leder's Purpose Formula](Official website or related resources)

• Stanford Study on Purpose and Happiness

• Encore.org - Purpose and Fulfillment

Finding purpose in retirement is a personal, ongoing journey that involves exploring your gifts, passions, and values. It evolves over time, and embracing grace and growth helps make the process fulfilling. Take small steps, reflect regularly, and remember—purpose isn’t about perfection, but progress.

Retirement isn't just about leaving a career; it's about discovering and reconnecting with your authentic self. This episode explores how to embrace your current passions, core values, and evolving identity post-retirement.

Main Topics Covered:

• The importance of redefining your identity after retirement

• Exercises to reconnect with your current self, passions, and strengths

• Reflection tools like creating a personal memoir and personality assessments

• How to identify what truly makes you happy, motivated, and engaged

• Practical tips for embracing change and finding purpose

In this episode:

• Discusses Marianne's three-step process to focus on what you do well, your purpose, and opportunities to implement your skills

• Explores five key areas: personality, interests, strengths, skills, and motivators

• Shares personal experiences from journaling, creating memoirs, and visualizing life as a journey with exits

• Emphasizes the significance of understanding your strengths, such as listening, loyalty, and organizational skills

• Offers exercises like personality trait selection and interest reflection to identify what brings joy and fulfillment

• Highlights the importance of self-compassion and honest reflection during this transformative phase

•  The Happiness Portfolio for Retirement by Marianne Osher

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Note: The journey of self-discovery can be emotional and deep. Take your time, be kind to yourself, and remember that every step you take is progress toward a fulfilling retirement life.

Connect with the Hosts:

[email protected]

Retirement is a time of profound change and endless possibilities. In this episode, three sisters share insights from expert Marianne Osher’s 'The Happiness Portfolio for Retirement,' discussing how retirees can approach this chapter of life with intentionality, flexibility, and creativity to find purpose and fulfillment.The concept of endless possibilities in retirement and how to navigate feeling overwhelmed versus liberated. This episode encourages retirees and pre-retirees to reflect on their life’s baggage, explore various paths, and craft a compelling vision for their future. Whether you prefer a structured plan or spontaneous adventures, embracing experimentation and visualization can lead to a more joyful, authentic retirement.

• Exploring six different retirement paths: continuers, easy gliders, adventurers, searchers, involved spectators, and retreaters.

• The importance of self-awareness in choosing paths, experimenting, and integrating different approaches.

• Repacking your mental and emotional baggage—reevaluating beliefs, habits, and relationships that no longer serve you.

• Developing a vision board to clarify your future goals, activate your subconscious, and stay motivated.

• How to balance structure and spontaneity in retirement for a fulfilling lifestyle.

• The significance of community involvement, travel, hobbies, and personal growth as part of your retirement vision.

• Reimagining your identity—shifting from a career-focused mindset to one rooted in joy, purpose, and self-care.

• The role of mindfulness, living intentionally, and celebrating small wins during this transition.

• Practical exercises including visualizing your ideal future and reassessing your baggage The Happiness Portfolio for Retirement by Marianne Osher

• The Art of Possibility by Rosam Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander

• The Artist's Way series by Julia Cameron

 Exploring the journey of retirement as a time for discovery, purpose, and self-reflection, this episode features a candid conversation among three sisters navigating life after work. From reconnecting with passions and building confidence to planning for the future, they share insights, exercises, and strategies to embrace this transformational phase. In this episode:

• Retirement as a time for self-discovery and renewal

• The importance of connecting with passions and hobbies from the past

• Strategies for managing uncertainty and transition fears

• The significance of creating a list of interests and inspirations

• How mindset and support influence the retirement experience

• Practical exercises to clarify goals and passions

• Insights from Mary Ann Osher’s The Happiness Portfolio for Retirement

• The benefits of reflection for a fulfilling retirement journey

wayResources & Links:

• The Happiness Portfolio for Retirement by Mary Ann Osher

• Nancy Schalashberg’s book, Overwhelmed, Coping with Life’s Ups and Downs

 References:

1.        Oesher, Marianne T., “Your Happiness Portfolio® For Retirement, It’s Not About the Money!” 2019.

2. Schlossberg, Nancy EdD, “Overwhelmed. Coping with Life’s Ups and Downs.”

 Links:

“Your Happiness Portfolio® For Retirement, It’s Not About the Money!” workbook, go to RetireandBeHappy.com/workbook/

In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical aspects of letting go of your previous career identity to embrace a new chapter in life. Join us as we discuss how to navigate change, shed emotional baggage, and find purpose after retirement.

• The importance of releasing your former professional identity

• How to accept the loss of organizational power and perks

• Overcoming fears and emotional attachment to the past

• Practical exercises to let go, including symbolic fire rituals

• The role of memories and creating new opportunities

• Recognizing job-related stressors that make letting go challenging

• Personal stories of growth and adjustment in retirement

00:00 - Introduction to the importance of letting go for a successful retirement00:24 - Overview of challenges faced when retiring and transitioning to a new life phase01:17 - The significance of releasing old identities and roles02:26 - Letting go of who you used to be—career identity and recognition03:14 - Impact of community environment on perceptions of your former career04:45 - The loss of authority, power, and perks after retirement07:21 - Guilt associated with no longer earning a paycheck08:36 - Maintaining personal traits and professional qualities post-retirement10:56 - Why holding on to the past can hinder emotional and physical health12:20 - Using memories to stay connected and transition into the unknown13:16 - The necessity of emotional growth through letting go15:18 - Strategies to trust in the process and release fear17:47 - Exercises for letting go: listing what to release and symbolic burning25:50 - Creative ways to say goodbye to the past, including talk, crumble, or burn lists26:39 - Humor and support, including "fireball" rituals and sharing with others27:05 - Encouragement to reflect and embrace the next chapter with joy

• Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement by Mary Ann Usher (search for exact link)

• The Happiness Portfolio for Retirement: It’s Not About the Money by Mary-Ann T. Oshoor

“Your Happiness Portfolio® For Retirement, It’s Not About the Money!” workbook, go to

RetireandBeHappy.com/workbook/

Join us for next week's discussion on discovering new passions.

This episode explores the emotional and psychological transitions into retirement, emphasizing the importance of understanding change, embracing discovery, and developing adaptability for a fulfilling retirement journey.

key topics

• Emotional and psychological changes in retirement

• The phases of letting go, in-between, and new beginning

• The importance of adaptability and acceptance of change

• Strategies for finding purpose and fulfillment after retirement

• The role of social connections and self-awareness in retirement

takeaways

• Understanding that transitions take time and self-compassion is essential

• Viewing retirement as a journey of discovery and growth

• The significance of letting go of the past to embrace the future

• Developing adaptability helps manage change more effectively

• The importance of balancing positive and negative aspects of change

action items

• Reflect on your own transitions and what you've learned from them

• Practice self-compassion during periods of change

• Develop a personal plan for discovering new purpose in retirement

• Balance positive and negative aspects of change in your mindset

Chapters

00:00

Navigating Retirement Transitions

04:21

Understanding Emotional Changes in Retirement

06:55

Phases of Letting Go and Embracing Change

13:17

The Importance of Adaptability

20:51

Reflections on Personal Growth and Future Challenges

34:15

Introduction to Retirement Planning

34:42

Exploring Trends: What the Numbers Reveal

• Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement by Marion Osher

• Website

Resources

SummaryThis episode explores the emotional, social, and practical challenges faced during retirement, including identity loss, health concerns, downsizing, and coping strategies. Experts share insights and personal stories to help listeners navigate this significant life transition.

Chapters

00:00

Facing Retirement Challenges

03:33

Navigating Identity and Relevance

06:10

The Importance of Structure in Retirement

08:30

Social Connections and Loneliness

10:58

Understanding Gray Divorce and Relationships

13:41

Mental Health Risks in Retirement

16:26

Addressing Baggage and Old Issues

18:46

Finding Value Beyond Work

21:12

Concluding Thoughts on Retirement

41:04

Introduction to Retirement Planning

41:31

Key Resources for Retirement

41:37

Personalizing Your Retirement Journey

• Finding Our Way Book and Workbook

• Marianne's strategies for retirement - Brain and Life

• Caring for aging loved ones - AARP Resources

Resources & Links: