What No One Tells You About Purpose and Happiness in Retirement

[@TwoSidesOfFI]

Have you experienced challenges with identifying purpose? Let us know in the comments

[@mikesurel5040]

The fact that 'purpose coach' is a thing says a lot. Oi. Every time content comes on about 'you need to retire to something' or 'you have to have a purpose' I chime in about I do not have these things. I don't want them. I look forward to unwinding and then figuring it out. I have great friends, a wonderful family, a couple of regular poker games with said friends, a couple guitars and a garden. As long as i can be fed, have a place to sleep at night and those afore mentioned relationships, i am good. And this is ok. The chat in the middle about 'what are you going to do with that money' and that you can do a lot of what you want to do now, retired or not, is key. Pure friggin' gold. Love this episode Also, happy new year everyone.

[@TNTinFL]

Maybe my view is simplistic: but I always felt my purpose in life is to be happy. So by focusing on the things that I enjoy doing, it invariably becomes a reinforcing aspect of my overall happiness. And as a sidebar, I try to focus on making those around me happy as well. As it also fueled my overall happiness.

[@NorthernSunflower]

I am two years into early retirement and still experimenting with what lights me up and how I want to spend my time so this conversation is so timely, thanks guys!

[@dipenpatel5204]

I 100% love this podcast because of how much it focuses on navigating life post retirement (i.e. the softer stuff)! The finance stuff has been done to death. Keep it up and thank you for sharing!!

[@halojones1843]

This is brilliant. This is exactly what I needed now. Thank you, so much.

[@TwoSidesOfFI]

🙏

[@merrybrown6407]

Hi I’m guilty I’ve only focussed on the ‘tool’ ( FI) I’m here now but keep working as the ‘what next’ blows my mind….its SO much harder than getting to FI. Love this episode TY💕

[@user-dixk2rx5gz8f]

Respectfully, isn't "purpose anxiety" the ultimate luxury problem? Go to Kongo or numerous other challenged corners of the world. Ask 100 people whether or not they feel "purpose anxiety". Chances are, you would get many incredulous blank stares. It seems like we at times create new terms and consequently new problems. Life is short. Is it not baffling that some find it so difficult to fill this precious life with meaning? - Love your videos - especially the earnest discussions between the two of you two. Please continue. - Thanks! :)

[@plainjanespath]

I think that it isn't just society as a whole saying we should have big P purpose, but also, when friends and former colleagues hear about me FIRE'ing, they ask what I'm up to and then seem disappointed when I give them little p answers (maybe because it is different from their hopes of what they'd be accomplishing if they hit that point? idk, it would be an interesting research project along with the dismissive 'must be nice' comments). There is an active governing of the reward cycle if you aren't doing something shiny.

[@arkiki2717]

Thank you. This came at a very good time for me. Purpose anxiety is a real thing, especially when you realise that Fire is a tool rather than a goal as he says. Figuring out what are the processes we enjoy and then reverse engineering what could be a good goal they could drive towards (even if the goal is actually the process) is very helpful. Your questions were also absolutely on point, which made the conversation very rich!

[@korntron]

Really exceptional interview guys! Thanks.

[@diannad8905]

Thanks for all of the effort you put into these episodes, as they are greatly appreciated! My hubby and I are going to use this episode as part of our date night this week, as we are 12 months from him retiring and our approach and thoughts about it are quite different. I plan on keeping my business going, as I really enjoy what I do and I can turn in on/off whenever I want. For him, after 30+ years in law enforcement, he wants to tinker and just figure it out as it goes. Your "softer" discussions about retirement are excellent, and I especially enjoy hearing men share their thoughts. That's rare (perhaps sexist comment), but it's enlightening to hear two friends navigate this topic. Thanks so much and Happy New Year!

[@michaelbiondi52]

Glad to hear your hubby is retiring from LE. I retired myself after 28.5 years and highly recommend it!

[@marcosvaldes8910]

Congratulations on this episode. This information has been one of the most useful and actionable items that I can take as I am in my journey to financial independence within the next five years. You may get more views for the financial stuff but to me, this is golden. Keep up the great work.

[@iflychris]

Fantastic disucssion. Love the bit about making making purpose as synonymous with calculating one's FIRE number.

[@danielstusnick6011]

I would say that for those of us who are parents, being a provider never really goes away. I still view myself as a provider for my 3 adult kids and I try to fulfill that by being a good steward of the assets I use to live on so that I can help them down the road, and to manage my health so I remain independent later in life. I have other Ps in retirement, but I really take my role as provider seriously and I do get fulfillment from it.

[@bwhite9993]

Very admirable..For me, my wife and my 4 adult kids i kindof want to stop being a provider and focus on providing things for my wife and I. Not sure i would ever retire if I thought i needed to be a provider for my adult children. I also don't want to be the primary child care provider for my 4 kids children. I think I enjoy being in their lives but i don't want them to become another job...

[@danielstusnick6011]

@@bwhite9993 not sure I would want to be the primary child care provider either. My kids live in Manhattan and I'm 3 hours away. I do however want to be able to help them with a downpayment or wedding down the road despite my decision to leave the workforce at 57.

[@bwhite9993]

@@danielstusnick6011 agree, im in jersey... Wedding im good with too have that saved as well. Down payment on house would be a bit much. My kids live at home until about 27.. so i expect them to save while they are here..

[@markkunath8440]

I agree with being a good steward of the assets and keeping me healthy. None of us can take the physical assets with us - I want my kids to get the benefits from them.

[@dr5674]

What an incredible discussion!! Thought provoking and very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing this discussion. Thinking from this point of view is extremely helpful. Your definitions of purpose are very helpful.

[@trevorjacobs]

Very enlightening, thanks guys

[@MarcD-ze6yt]

This has been a very helpful episode. I really liked "Taking Stock" and am looking forward to reading his new book.

[@brummyrunner8408]

Thank you for this episode, which I found to be very thought provoking. I am wrestling with these issues. I will be sure to follow up on the book and resources. Please keep making episodes on these themes.

[@retirementcorner]

Purpose means something different to each individual. What brings you a sense of purpose won't for me. As long as you're doing what you want in retirement that's all that counts. Steve

[@gahippie2017]

As always, relevant and thought provoking.... time to get some spaghetti 😊

[@shea2415]

+1 for watching every video on your channel for the psychological side! Haven't commented in a while. Thanks for continuing to make these, guys 🍻

[@TwoSidesOfFI]

🙏 thanks so much for your support

[@pavanjauhal4679]

Purpose Anxiety is real.

[@ajdornier]

Is that an Evangelion T-Shirt? It's definitely something that lights me up and yes, working on my hobbies is my small 'p's!

[@TwoSidesOfFI]

Sure is! I’ve got a bunch of ‘em :) I’m a huge fan of it -J

[@justadudeintheworldman.120]

Good episode. I’m sure hospice work can provide people with a very different perspective on life and what really matters. I’m guilty of setting goals, reaching them at times and then setting another one. It’s really a hamster wheel of highs & lows. Tapping into what you liked as a child is helpful, it does take work remembering because of all the societal and life BS that has accumulated over the years.

[@richardh3587]

Great episode and will definitely check out his book. I definitely have purpose anxiety and have struggled with what I hope to do if/when I retire. Unfortunately, I think i'm one of those people who fall into that last bucket he decribed of "so burned out from your job and that you just need to quit and then start my purpose journey in 6 months when i start to get antsy". The things that I enjoy doing now seem to mostly revolve around trying to "refill my tank" after work drains me like going to the gym or going on a nice vacation. Probably not enough to serve as the basis of a "purpose anchor". Likewise all the research and reading I do about FIRE.

[@PhilippeM-c5t]

Merci !

[@TwoSidesOfFI]

🙏🙏

[@francescodesimone9882]

❤

[@AnhNguyen-bi6vg]

❤