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My guest today says that loss of identity may be one of the biggest challenges people face when transitioning into retirement.
George Jerjian is a retirement transition expert, author and creator of the DARE method. During the pandemic, he conducted an extensive survey of people between 55 and 75 across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. More than 21,000 people completed all nine questions.
The results were revealing. While health and finances were major concerns, when people were given the opportunity to change something about retirement, 36% said they wanted to find a new purpose.
George eventually concluded that one of the first casualties of retirement is identity. When our identity has been closely connected to our work for decades, leaving that career can create a tremendous void.
In our conversation today, George explains why retirement should be viewed as a turning point rather than an ending.
First, we’ll discuss why preparing financially for retirement is only part of the equation and why people also need to prepare mentally and emotionally for the transition.
Second, George explains why people need to rediscover who they are apart from their careers and how examining their past can uncover interests, abilities and experiences that point toward a new purpose.
Third, we’ll talk about his DARE process, which stands for discover, assimilate, rewire and expand. Changing the stories we tell ourselves can open possibilities we may have dismissed because of our age.
Finally, George explains why people over 50 should continue learning, growing, traveling, serving others and pursuing experiences they have been postponing.
George knows something about making that transition himself. After retiring at 52 following an illness, he spent years searching for what came next. At 69, he embarked on an around-the-world journey to countries he had never visited.
George offers an important challenge to people approaching retirement or already living it: Don’t confuse leaving a career with leaving a meaningful life.
For many people, retirement creates a space between who they used to be and who they are becoming.
George described it as a period of exploration in which people need to stop comparing themselves to their former careers and begin discovering a new identity, purpose and community.
He encourages people to conduct an audit of their lives, examining experiences, interests, successes and even difficult periods to discover patterns that might reveal what matters most to them.
In his own life, he discovered that many crises eventually became platforms for new opportunities.
Another lesson is to challenge the stories we tell ourselves about aging. Thoughts like “I’m too old,” “It’s too late” or “I can’t do that anymore” can become self-imposed barriers that prevent us from exploring what might still be possible.
George also stressed the value of continuing to expand rather than retreat. That might mean learning something new, developing another skill, traveling with intention or investing time in something you have always wanted to explore.
Perhaps, most importantly, find ways to use what you enjoy doing in service to others. Connection and contribution can provide an antidote to the isolation and loneliness that sometimes accompany retirement.
George’s encourages seasoned citizens to start working on that bucket list now because, in exploring those interests, you may discover something you love that becomes the beginning of your next chapter.
To learn more about George, his books, courses and work helping people navigate the transition into retirement, visit georgejerjian.com. You can also find him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X by searching for George Jerjian.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
