From Career Identity to Personal Identity: Redefining Purpose

For most of our lives, our identity is tied to our work.

Our pride, standards, and achievements can be neatly wrapped up and delivered in response to the question, “What do you do?” Not to mention the byproducts work creates—relationships, goals, and structure—provided by a work environment.

Then, we reach the ultimate goal—retirement.

Finding purpose in a career isn’t uncommon, but it doesn’t make the transition to retirement easier. For many people, the freedom that comes with retirement is a double-edged sword—while it offers endless possibilities, it can also feel overwhelming to choose what to focus on amid all that newfound spare time.

You can also look at it this way: retirement is one of the few times in your life when you get to redefine yourself.

 

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Upon retirement, you’ll come to a fork in the road. Without redefining purpose in later life, that path will lead to a sense of loss and disappointment. When you’re able to find purpose outside of work, life after career retirement will feel liberating, fulfilling, and joyful.

There’s no shortcut to making your way down the second path, no secret map. That road is accessed only by finding internal purpose rather than external purpose.

Finding internal purpose starts with looking inwards, rather than relying on external factors for fulfillment. In retirement, you have time to reconnect with yourself to re-identify your interests, hobbies, and joys. This could come in the shape of:

• Creative pursuits like art, music, or writing
• Learning for the joy of it
• Physical activities that feel energizing
• Causes and volunteer work that feel meaningful
  

Artist at The Sequoias Yoshi

In retirement, finding purpose after retirement comes through contribution rather than occupation. Instead of doing work you’re supposed to do, you can find value through things you want to do, like:

• Mentoring others
• Sharing knowledge and experience
• Volunteering in the community
• Supporting neighbors and friends
• Participating in groups and activities

Through presence and participation, you’ll see that finding internal purpose isn’t difficult at all.

Living in an environment that fosters the development of your internal purpose eases the transition into retirement.

Environments that offer opportunities for engagement, learning, and connection make it easier to explore new interests and build new routines. Read more about Philippe’s experience at The Sequoias San Francisco. He found that being surrounded by others who are also navigating this stage of life creates encouragement and inspiration.

Whether your environment is your own neighborhood or a new community, the first step is to get out of your comfort zone and find ways to grow. 

In a community, personal growth after retirement lives in the everyday. It’s a new resident trying a paint class for the first time. It’s a couple inviting friends over for game night. It’s learning a new instrument, taking an exercise class, or any number of things that take a little bit of courage but not much sacrifice, because they’re accessible and available.

Never Stop Dancing Philippe

Take productivity off the table, because purpose in retirement is about meaning, not bottom lines.

It’s about waking up with something to look forward to.
It’s about choosing how to spend your time.
It’s about investing energy into what feels fulfilling.

It’s an opportunity to redefine who you are, to reconnect with yourself, and to ask yourself:

• What brings me joy?
• What do I want to learn?
• How do I want to contribute?
• Who do I want to spend time with?

These answers will lead you to the most rewarding life you could imagine. It’s in finding our purpose that we find ourselves. Isn’t that freeing?

Sequoia Living’s communities are ripe with opportunities to find your purpose. Discover our communities, rediscover yourself, and live your most meaningful life after 60. Explore all four unique communities throughout the beautiful Bay Area here.