I love watching the Olympics. Swimming, gymnastics, beach volleyball, track and field…I vicariously experience both the joy and frustration of the athletes. For two weeks, like many others around the world, I am totally entertained.
But what do these competitors do after their athletic careers are over, and they return to the “real world?” They’ve spent most of their lives totally immersed in the pursuit of an Olympic victory, training every day with a singular focus. While some will return to school or go back to raising their families, what do they do with the rest of their lives when the 2016 Olympics is not in their future? Even Michael Phelps, with endorsements worth millions, will now want to find some other worthy endeavor to dedicate his life to.
What to do with our lives is a question that many of us struggle with. Do we like what we do or are we just marking time waiting for something better to come along? Does our work engage our mind and our heart? Does our work provide a sense of purpose to our lives?
According to Gallup research, only 20% of people give a strong ‘yes’ in response to the question, “Do you like what you do each day?” In fact, our careers have a great deal to do with our overall well-being. In the book WellBeing: The Five Essential Elements, (Rath and Harter, 2010) one of the critical elements to well-being is to “find something that you enjoy doing—and have an opportunity to do it every day. Whether that means working in an office, volunteering, raising your children, or starting your own business, what matters most is being engaged in the career or occupation you choose.”
For many of the 78 million baby boomers approaching retirement, what to do next is a major concern. Although many baby boomers are continuing to work well past the age of 65 and many just can’t afford to retire, a number of boomers wonder how to spend their time when their current job is over. With people living longer and in good health, some are asking, “What should I do in the next chapter of my life? Traveling and playing golf are great, but can I be fulfilled with these activities every day for the next 10, 20, or 30 years?”
So how do you to stay engaged and find fulfillment in your life? Here are some questions to answer:
- What are you passionate about? What do you truly care about? Time seems to fly by when you’re engaged in something that is important and relevant to you.
- How can you serve others? For many of us, helping others often brings greater meaning to our own lives. If we mentor young children, care for the sick, or offer our services to the needy, we engage our hearts as well as our minds.
- What are your dreams? Growing up, what did you always dream of doing? How can you make some or part of those dreams a reality?
- What are your strengths? How can you use your experience and transfer that to another industry, venue, or business venture?
- How can you continue to learn? Lifelong learning is key to staying engaged. This doesn’t necessarily mean a degree program at a university. There are loads of workshops, books, and on-line programs that are low or no-cost.
- What resources do you have available? Who can you network with? Sending an inquiry via email, suggesting lunch or coffee, and asking for help in your exploration process may open possible opportunities.
- How can you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Staying physically healthy will give you greater energy and vitality to do the things that you want in life.
- How can you keep an open mind? There may not be one right answer, but perhaps a combination of activities will bring you greater meaning and fulfillment.
While what we choose to do will be different from one person to the next, the common goal is that we become and stay engaged to achieve greater well-being in our lives.
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