Zak: Living a joyous, fulfilled life in your third third
Valley Voices
Are you on the path to living the most joyous, fulfilled and free time of your life in your third third? If so, it takes more than financial planning to ensure the best time of life occurs post-60, and it includes a well-balanced approach to your journey.
After multiple life-altering events rocked my life structure in my early 50s, I sought to understand how to reshape my being and lifestyle to create a blissful and authentic presence as I entered into my sixth decade. Through this journey, I recognized that I needed to transition my identity and focus on new intentions, goals and outcomes while seeking direction, education and support — above and beyond financial planning.
Through my research to uncover this new life path, I discovered that there are very few resources to help boomers adjust and plan for this new phase, especially since identities are typically shaped through professional and family lives — not personal desires and dreams.
I substantiated that society and government have done a good job of preparing individuals for the first 2/3rds of life– the first third through education, skill development and experience, the second third through societal, cultural and professional infrastructures. But, what is out there to educate us on the third third besides the emphasis on financial security?
As I explored a variety of sources with the hopes of finding something to help me transition into the third third of life, I was woefully underwhelmed. Curious by nature, I interviewed dozens of individuals to learn how they planned for this new phase and what they would have done differently.
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Interestingly, I uncovered two threads. The first was that they had followed expert advice and prepared financially. The second was that they had not thought through the socio-emotional transition that was needed to make retirement their best phase of life. I found this perplexing, as these individuals had spent their whole life working to create a seamless and happy transition into their golden years, yet that happiness was eluding them.
After further questioning, approximately 70% had experienced recent lifequakes that placed them in survival mode — paralyzed and numb, wondering where to turn next. They couldn’t find resources to help them and wished they had developed a whole life approach for the third third, since they realized they needed more than financial security to be happy.
They articulated that society and government is not supporting boomers in the way they need in order to create a journey map that is joyous, fulfilling and free. And they would have liked to have spent more time formulating a well-balanced planning process for the third third, one that incorporated five “Ps:” personal, psychological, physical, purpose and place.
Stay tuned for my future columns, where I will examine the five Ps in greater detail, so you can make your third third golden.
