Are You Living Your Life On Purpose?

Are You Living Your Life On Purpose?

Lou Desepoli, Heritage

Why, day in and day out, do you do the things that you do?

Because you have to? Is it because you want to? Or is it because you’ve had the same routine for years and you’re used to it?

If you feel like your life is something that just happens to you, it’s time to reassess how you’re spending your time. Financial security, stability, and creature comforts are all important. But feeling that your life has purpose will become more and more critical to your emotional and physical well-being as you age — especially when you finally retire.

A healthy sense of purpose.

Research into the area of human well-being draws a distinction between happiness (experiencing pleasure and avoiding pain) and the feelings of meaning and self-worth that we derive from our lives (1).

Too often, we focus on the former and neglect the latter. This is why the sheen wears off so quickly from a big-ticket purchase. Buying a new car or big-screen TV gives us a quick hit of pleasure. But sooner rather than later, new things become just more things that we’ve accumulated. Once that initial happiness evaporates, we find there’s no additional layer – no purpose – to improve our well-being.

Researchers have also found that people who feel like their lives have purpose live longer and show decreased risk of cardiovascular problems (2). And as you age and prepare for retirement, living with purpose helps to limit your risk of cognitive problems, such as Alzheimer’s (3).

The purpose of work and family.

Most of us tie purpose to the things that we spend the majority of our time doing: working and raising our families. Again, it’s important to draw a distinction between simple happiness and purpose.

A doctor who has to deal with ill people and mortality might not consider her job “happy” all the time. But helping people gives her that critical sense of purpose that rounds out her feelings of well-being.

Taking care of children will, at times, make even the most patient parents want to pull their own hair out. But feelings of love, connection, and responsibility make both happy family vacations and frustrating afternoons in timeout purposeful.

If you feel like your life is lacking purpose, start by looking for misalignment in these two areas. Is your job “just a job” that pays the bills? How could you pivot to a career that uses your unique gifts and skills to create purpose? Or are you working so hard that you’re missing key family events, which are also critical to your sense of purpose? Are there ways to improve your work-life balance?

It’s never too late to start living.

Many people believe that living and giving generously with their time, talents, and/or finances is a luxury they can’t afford, especially once children, mortgage payments, and college tuition enter the picture. However, research indicates that senior citizens frequently cite “dying with their music still in them” as one of the biggest areas of regret when they look back on their lives, meaning, chances they didn’t take, ideas they never pursued, or opportunities they watched pass by. It’s not money they’re regretting, it’s the sense of purpose they missed out on that would have improved their Return on Life.

Of course, not everybody can have that “perfect” job. But even in those situations, think of it not so much about the work you do, but “who you bring” to the work you do. Find ways to bring purpose to even the most mundane jobs and how that work is helping others.

And it’s never to late to find that purpose. Even seniors can discover new passions that will give their golden years purpose if they approach retirement with an active, enthusiastic mindset.

If you’re having trouble getting started, try asking yourself, “Why do I get out of bed in the morning?”

Is it to take care of your family? If so, then consider planning a family vacation for the summer. Coaching your child’s youth sports team. Turning dinner time into a group cooking activity. Or setting a regular monthly date night with your spouse.

If you find purpose in helping those in need, consider finding a volunteer position for a few hours a week.

Do you like to express yourself? Then perhaps start a blog or a digital photography website that you can work on in your free time. Turn that spare bedroom into a craft room.

And if you think your purpose is simply to make more money? Well, then maybe you need to start asking yourself better questions. Remember, money is a means, not an end.

We encourage you to come in and talk to us so that we can start a new dialogue about how your financial plan can help you get the best, most purposeful life possible with the money you have.

 

Sources:
  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11148302
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26630073
  3. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/210648

 

 

10 Best Cities for Retirement

10 Best Cities for Retirement

Prescott, Arizona

If you love the outdoors and a vibrant cultural scene, one of the cities you should consider retiring in is Prescott, Arizona. Located in the north of Arizona, this old mining town experiences a cooler summer than southern Arizona. As a result, this helps you steer clear of sweltering summer temperatures. A booming economy, rich history, and low housing prices make this city a real contender for retirement.

Venice, Florida

Venice is a small retirement community found on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. Named after Venice, Italy, this community has many canals and rivers that run through it and has been designed with architectural influence from Italian renaissance. Calm traffic and low prices mean peaceful retirement and it’s particularly well suited to slightly older retirees. Parks, beaches, golf, tennis, and proximity to the beach will keep you busy, and proximity to nearby Sarasota will mean you have everything you need.

Augustine, Florida

The historic community of St. Augustine, Florida, is a perfect retirement location for history buffs. The local economy is driven by tourism. Consequently, if you’re keen to volunteer and stay an active part of your community, this might be the city for you. On the north east coast of Florida, this city experiences cooler temperatures than other options in the state.

Beaufort, South Carolina

The quaint, charming southern community of Beaufort, South Carolina, is a prime retirement spot. This old river town offers plenty of golfing and fishing during the mild winters and hot summers. The military installations in the city solidify the economy and diversify the population. Also, Beaufort is home to a growing retirement community. There are lots of families here as well

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Whatever you are looking for in your retirement locale, from downtown living to a planned community, Myrtle Beach has what you need. Some of the highlights are the Grand Stand. Also knows for a huge stretch of pristine sandy beach, trendy shopping and restaurants. A low cost of living, great theater, excellent medical care, and enough golf courses to keep things exciting are just a few reasons to visit. Due to all these reasons, how could you not love your retirement life in sunny Myrtle Beach.

Abilene, Texas

If you’re looking for an affordable retirement, head to Abilene, Texas. With cost of living over 10% below national average, this old railroad shipping town has a growing retirement community within the city. Year round warm weather and excellent recreational and social opportunities for senior citizens of Abilene will keep you entertained and in good company all year round.

Austin, Texas

This big city offers plenty of activities to keep the retiree busy and engaged. Home to the University of Texas, this cultural hub boasts a terrific economy, warm weather, plenty of volunteering opportunities, open air art markets, galleries, museums, performing art theatres, low crime, and it’s the live music capital of the world. With so much going on, this city would be best suited for energetic retirees who aren’t looking for too much peace and quiet!

Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho makes one of the great retirement destination cities for active adults. Into biking? This city was rated one of the best cities to live and ride. Love the outdoors? The mountains are at your doorstep, and the river offers whitewater adventures for the daredevil retirees out there. In downtown Boise, there are many shopping, eating, and cultural opportunities. Consequently, walking paths and low crime rates mean that you will feel confident stepping out into this great retirement city.

Palm Springs, California

Located in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is one of world’s most famous retirement cities. The breath taking landscape and rich culture draw people from all around the globe to retire here. Active retirees can enjoy the golf scene and the nearby Joshua Tree Park, and everyone can enjoy the 350 days of sunshine a year. Most of all, summers here are so hot you’ll have to retreat to the air conditioned indoors!

Salt Lake City, Utah

Nestled into the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and next to the Great Salt Lake, the beautiful Salt Lake City is a picturesque place to retire. Perfect for the active adult, you can enjoy golf and winter sports galore. Clean air, booming economy, and plenty of volunteering opportunities. Also, an above average doctor per capita rate make this city a prime retirement spot! Salt Lake experiences cold winters and hot, dry summers, so skip this city for retirement if you can’t take the cold!

 

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