Every morning in tens of millions of homes across this country, people are awakened to the sound of an alarm signaling the start of a new day. For what might be a majority of those households, the need to start the workday on time is the reason the alarm was set. How do you feel about the work you are getting up for? Do you find an excitement building as you anticipate the day that lies ahead or maybe not so much?
How are you feeling?
For some, work has become a duty or maybe even drudgery. It is a necessary part of life that pays the bills and funds the vacations to escape the work experience. For others, it provides the means to use your God-given talents and skills to positively impact the world around you. It is quite possible that your feelings vary and range from one extreme to the other depending on what is going on, not only at work, but also in the rest of your life as well.
According to a Pew Research study that was done in 2016, about 49% of American workers say they are very satisfied with their current job. Approximately 30% are somewhat satisfied and the remainder are either somewhat or very dissatisfied. Given the recent pandemic and its impact on American workers, it will be interesting to see what the current statistics reveal.
For those of you who are retired, you may find yourself experiencing a very different sensation. For all the years you were employed,, work was your reason to get up in the morning. It gave your life a sense of purpose. Now that the job or career is no longer there, you may find yourself searching for that reason.
Do you need a new reason for your new season?
As you think about this Encore! season of life, the question becomes, what is going to be the reason to get up every morning once you leave the job behind you? In the short run, the luxury to sleep in and have an uncommitted free day will be appreciated, needed, and even exciting. Having the freedom and time to vacation and enjoy the hobbies and sports you love is a wonderful benefit of not having a job commitment.
At some point though, most people feel as though they need to be making a positive impact with their life. Sometimes the challenge becomes how to find those activities that bring you the satisfaction of knowing you are making a positive contribution to the life of an individual or cause that is important to you.
It doesn’t just happen!
A successful Encore! doesn’t “just happen.” It takes careful thought, planning, and intentionality. It is most helpful to have a compelling vision of what lies ahead in order to give you the reason to get out of bed. Here is your call to action:
- Take some time to reflect on what makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled.
- Consider the ways that you can spend more time engaged in those activities.
- Identify habits you may need to eliminate and those you need to add that will bring you closer to your objectives.
You may find these tasks relatively easy to address and implement. Or you might find them challenging and difficult to deal with. Sometimes, having someone alongside to guide you through the process may be helpful to you. If that’s the case, connect with me and we can talk about it.
Helping Baby Boomers discover their Purpose so they can unleash its awesome Power.