“What is the meaning of life?” It’s one of those big, philosophical questions we all find ourselves trying to answer. If you’re like most seniors, you probably spent much of your life looking forward to your golden years. Finally, a well-earned period of rest and retirement after a lifetime of hard work! What some seniors don’t realize is that the transition into a new phase of life often comes with challenges. Learning how to find meaning in your life as a senior can help you navigate the transition successfully. And believe it or not, the meaning you’re looking for might be under your nose!
Finding Meaning in Your Senior Years
Determine What You Value and Work Towards It
One of the reasons that seniors can find retirement confusing is because of how it shifts their priorities. Whether we realize it or not, a nine-to-five job or even just a disciplined daily routine is often a significant part of what we consider our “meaning” in life to be. To help you navigate into a new phase of life, it’s helpful to think about what else could bring meaning into your daily activities:
- Think about what really matters to you. Is it your family? Your friends? A community cause you’re devoted to?
- How can you become more connected to those things now that your life has changed? Your senior years can give you time, space, and energy. Can you use those gifts for the things that matter to you?
- When you think about your values, what kind of a person do you want to be? How can you live out those values in your new phase of life?
Once you have an idea of what really matters to you, then you can work on making it a part of your daily life. For example, if you care deeply about animal welfare, you might find you have more time to volunteer with causes that help our furry friends. Orienting your life around the things that have meaning to you will naturally create meaning in your life.
Find Peace Within Yourself
While finding meaning outside of yourself is an important first step, it’s not the only way to bring meaning into your life. The other important side of seeking meaning in the world is learning how to seek meaning within yourself:
- One of the reasons that retirement is challenging is that many of our priorities in other phases of life are set by outside demands, such as school and work. How can you determine your own priorities based on what matters to you?
- How well do you really know yourself? Are you comfortable with yourself? Being at peace while being alone is a powerful way to find internal validation. Yoga, meditation, and even talk therapy can help.
- What sides of yourself need nurturing? What hidden sides of yourself can you discover? Try new creative outlets and hobbies and see what other ways you can explore your areas of interest.
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Make a plan for how to find meaning in your life as a senior, and you’ll be able to make the most out of your golden years. And if you’re looking for a community where residents are always encouraged to live with purpose, we hope you’ll come visit us at The Piper.
Are you looking for an assisted living, memory care support, or physician-directed nursing community in Kansas City? Check out The Piper. Our team of experienced and compassionate professionals ensures that residents feel secure and comfortable immediately. At our warm and welcoming community, which is truly a “home within a home,” we foster social interaction, engagement, and the right amount of care. Our residents always come first. To learn more about our services or to schedule a tour, please give us a call at 913-361-5136 or contact us online.