When we think about retirement planning, a great place to start is our view on the terms retirement or retired. How does it feel to hear the word or think about sharing “I’m retired”? Labels like “retired” carry meaning with them and, depending on whether that meaning sits well or not, can affect how we think, feel, and act. Also, labels can fix us in time and box us in if we allow them to. As with most everything in retirement (and life), the key here is to take agency.

Ask yourself, does the word retired fit you? Is it a word that supports you in moving forward, or does it hold you back?

Does it bring opportunity into your life, or is it attached to thoughts or feelings that will weigh you down?

If saying “I’m retired” works for you, embrace it and step into your new role fully. Relish that you’ve achieved this milestone, enter this new chapter with realistic optimism, and make the most of the opportunities ahead of you. Capture all the positive thoughts and feelings being retired brings and use them as your foundation to build upon.

If the term retired doesn’t work for you, investigate what the word conjures up and what’s needed to reframe it. If you’re at choice about your retirement date, are you retiring for reasons that fit for you, or are you retiring because you’re “supposed to,” thinking that everyone retires when they reach a certain age? Or, if the label itself doesn’t suit, what feels better? Consider options like "I'm enjoying my freedom from work," “I’m in my encore career,” or "I'm dedicating time to personal projects.”

Regardless of the term you use to describe your chapter in retirement, bask in the knowledge that you’ve achieved this milestone. Enter retirement with realistic optimism, making the most of the opportunities ahead of you.

What’s essential here is to step into this next chapter with the confidence you’ve carried with you throughout your life. Own this time in your life and share it in whatever way works for you.

Conflux Retirement Coaching is about merging the best of who you are with who you want to be. Let’s connect and explore what your perspective on being “retired” is and how it will support your view of the future. Together we’ll use this as a building block as we create a plan that moves you purposefully toward your vision.