A Positive Attitude Makeover| 8 Steps to Improve Your Attitude About Retirement
You know that feeling when you get a complete makeover? Your hair and nails are fresh, your makeup enhances you, and your clothes are new. You have a whole new outlook on life and it shows in your bright eyes and smile on your face as you strut into the room full of confidence. Maybe now is the time to have a makeover to have a positive attitude for retirement.
Can your attitude about retirement be as transformational as a beauty makeover? You betcha! How you approach daily living might help bring a better lifestyle to get the most out of your life.
Society tries to tell us what we need to do and how we should feel. There are “guidelines” as to how to move through time and tell us we only have so much time left. Getting older is inevitable, but aging is optional. Let’s be rebellious and write our own script, shall we?
Why You May Need A Positive Retirement Attitude Makeover
You’ve seen the grumpy old’man in his retirement years. People often become resentful or worry or are downright angry with where they are in life. These attitudes often have to do with the aforementioned societal rules. Life is too short to have a sour attitude and people tend to avoid those who are cranky all of the time. Let’s fix that before its too late! Wouldn’t you rather be happy and have fun?
Why should you have a positive attitude about retirement
- You will set yourself up to live longer. Studies show that women with a positive attitude versus those who weren’t as optimistic live four years longer on average.
- You can be your own self fulfilled prophecy. This means that if you believe you are happy and living well, you have a better chance of doing just that. If you believe that you are miserable and there is nothing left, chances are that is how you will feel.
- By having an attitude makeover, it allows you to experience joy and live life to the fullest. Many people may continue to work after they retire, but they are enjoying it because they often have the choice to work in a job they enjoy.
- Those with a positive outlook find more answers to challenges and come up with solutions to problems. You are more willing to try new things.
8 Steps To Have A Positive Attitude Retirement Makeover
Now for the fun part. What can you do for your retirement attitude makeover?
- Stop Thinking You Don’t Have A Purpose– For decades your days and weeks were structured with work and family. Although you don’t necessarily have a job to go to each day or children to raise, you can give yourself. You are who you are today full of wisdom and interesting because of life experience.
- Don’t do or not do things because you think you are supposed to. Even though the social norms may tell you to cut your hair or wear clothes as seen on the Golden Girls, do it YOUR way. If you are blessed to be able to keep your hair long and you like it, then do it! Do you like some of the latest trends in clothing, then go ahead and have your signature style. Maybe you still want to work after you retire from your corporate job, who’s stopping you?
- Stop calling it a midlife crisis– As Barbara Bradley Hagerty explains in her book, Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife, “This is a time of renewal and exhilaration, not a crisis!” Think of this as a time to invest in your soul rather than filling the bank account. Take time to renegotiate your purpose and transform the way you think.
- Have a clear vision for your future– We often put in the legwork for the financial planning of retirement, but fail to plan for the life part. Focus on your dreams and how you are going to make the most of every day. This is your time to do all of the things you didn’t have time to do! Have a dream session. Write lists of the books you have been wanting to read, places you want to travel, hobbies you would like to pick up, and maybe those Pinterest recipes that look so delicious but haven’t yet tried. Maybe you want to give back to the community and volunteer or learn something new. The world is your oyster!
- Try new things and learn-Learn something new. Test your limits and don’t allow fear to get in the way of learning or trying something new. Not only will you expand your horizons, but it is good for your brain and cognitive skills to continue to learn. Write a list and make your own curriculum for the coming years.
- Don’t think of yourself in a negative way-If you complain about aches and pains or dwelling on the negative, you will act and feel older than you are. Focus on being grateful for what your body can do. If you talk about yourself being strong and having vitality, then you will be able to do more than if you think you can’t.
- Identify your core values– Identify the core values of who you want to be and find clarity on how to conduct yourself.
- Seek Gratitude-Take time to stop and pause to be grateful. There’s nothing like isolating your thoughts from the hurried pace of the world. Show your gratitude to others and brighten their day. Notice and be grateful for the beauty in nature. Share random acts of kindness for others. Detach yourself from negative media. Challenge yourself not to complain for an entire day- not as easy as it would seem. This helps you be cognisant of your thought process. Stop and pause.
Finally
Retirement is a time not only of change but also a wonderful time in your life. Having a positive attitude can help you feel motivated and joyful. By staying social, exercising, learning new things, and contemplating gratitude, you will have a much better outlook on life….and maybe enjoy it more than ever. Resist what society tries to tell us that aging is bad. Don’t let anyone else’s ideas about aging get in your way of finding serendipity in everyday living.
Related Posts:
Identify Your Core Values and Find Clarity
The Best Tips To Have A Positive Attitude
At Life With Laurel we empower women to navigate middle life with serendipity. I’ve found that so many women struggle with knowing what to do during this transition and I want to put their mind at ease. That is why it is my mission to help women everywhere have a roadmap for middle age and find serendipity along the way. What my readers love most is the realization that with knowledge and a plan, they have power and can begin to celebrate this special time in their lives. If you think others would also enjoy this insight, please pass it along and share!
