Living on purpose is important for every life stage including retirement. By taking the time to deliberately identify the gifts, skill, strengths, talents, and values that make you unique, you are affirming characteristics that will help you continue to move forward in every season of your life. This thoughtful reflection will also enable you to make better decisions regarding the use of your time, money, and other resources now and in the future.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines purpose as “something set up as an object or end to be attained.” Others have said it better:
Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
Helen Keller
Regardless of whatever I do, I know what my purpose is:
to make a difference in people’s lives.
Tim Tebow
When you are living on purpose, you are not simply spending time on introspection or egocentric pursuits. You can use your skills and the knowledge you gain about yourself to create a legacy for future generations. Modeling being true to yourself and your values is itself a gift you can share. You can also use your talents to support a special cause or tackle one or more of the problems facing your community or your world. This might lead to a new career or other opportunities to use your life experience for good.
Richard Leider and David Shapiro, authors of Repacking Your Bags, define the good life as “living in the place you belong, with the people you love, doing the right work, on purpose.” They also tell us that “Purpose is not a goal. A goal is something that can be reached. A purpose is never achieved. It exists before you and lives on after you are gone.”
You can learn more about living on purpose in “Discover your unique purpose.” How are you living on purpose?