Those of us 50 and over have a big job ahead of us! What might that be, you're thinking? I have my hands full now! Well, believe it or not, how we "grow up"--how we behave and what we do as we age--will have a HUGE impact on the world.
You may have heard some recent AARP advertisements that show several 50+ individuals talking about, "When I grow up, I want to ________." At 2Young2Retire-MN/Start Your Best Life Now, we truly believe that you ARE never done growing. No matter what your age, you still have many opportunities to accomplish goals, see dreams come true and do things you haven't been able to do in your younger years. We most certainly are not ending our contributions to the world. We are just beginning!
In, Age Wave: How the Most Important Trend of Our Time Will Change Our Future, Ken Dychtwald writes, "How we decide to behave as elders will be the most important challenge we face." At this stage of our lives, many individuals decide to be the change they want to see in the world! With that attitude, we will face the world with our heads held high. We will respond to whatever calls to us; we will live life passionately, do the things we love and set the bar high! We will be an unprecedented force for the good!
We hear more and more stories about "seniors" around the country--and around the world--making their mark, making a difference and doing good in the world! Social entreneurship is flourishing for fifty- and sixty-somethings.
So, where do you start? Here are a couple of ideas of ways to start small and begin to get comfortable with the idea that YOU can do incredible things--and that you can make a difference:
-- Each and every day (starting today) do ONE random, unsolicited act of generosity or kindness. It can be something as simple as going to a Nursing Home to volunteer as a reader for an hour or so. Remember how good that makes you feel after you see how it makes others feel.
* Think about how good you felt at a time when someone did something selfless that made a difference in your life.
-- Imagine that you want to start, or just contribute to, a charity, but you have no money to give. What can you contribute that is uniquely yours? What skills or abilities do you have? How can you make a difference with your time or talents?
-- Describe your ideal world to a grandchild--or even a friend. Then, think about what you--or the two of you--can do to take a step, even a small step, toward achieving that vision. Make a plan and follow through.
Have a great day--and beyond--taking thefirst steps to doing incredible things!
Linda
If you want to learn more about "how to start your best life now," or need some help setting your goals, beginning your plans and taking the first steps to accomplishing your dreams, contact me at 612-209-1775 or drop me a note at lindam@2YOUNG2RETIRE-MN.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
How Can YOU Start Your Best Life Now?
Dream big...then don't quit! Dreaming is a start, but unless you follow up with some plans and actions, nothing will happen, right? If this sounds good to you, where do you begin? Let me walk through some options with you.
I recently re-read an article written by Harvey McKay, author of the New York Times Best Seller, "Swimming With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." Something he said there made me really think. He said he once heard a high school math instructor issue a challenge at a school assembly. "I hope you all fail," he said. "Because if you don't, you haven't set your goals high enough." How true! We are always so concerned with succeeding, looking good to others, not making a mistake...that we forget that we learn and grow through our mistakes and failures. By failing, we learn how to go higher and get better. If we constantly set small easy goals that don't challenge us, of course we'll hit them! But, are we growing? Are we getting better? Are we building for the future? I say, "No!" to all of the above. We NEED to fail to get better and grow.
This is never truer than when it comes to planning for your next phase of life. You can get by with not setting goals' most people never do. They go through life, taking it as it comes, and doing "whatever." They never suffer great disappointments, but they never think about what they REALLY want or if they're living life to the fullest. Come to think of it, not setting goals is tricking yourself into thinking you're succeeding when you are actually failing without admitting it to yourself! And, if you don't set goals to help you determine where you're going, how will you know when or if you get there? WOW!
So, what do we do about that? Dreaming...setting goals...putting a plan in place and then taking action will help you determine what matters most to you--what is REALLY important and help you focus there, and get you where you want to be.
Setting life goals is a two-step process: first you need to allow yourself to dream to help focus your plans on what REALLY matters to you and what you really want. Then, you need to figure out a realistic way to take actions that will get you where you want to be.
Dreaming is actually a fun and easy first step. Block out some time;commit this time to yourself. Sit down with no cell phone and no other wireless devices; get a notepad and DREAM! Think about things you've always wanted to do or have but thought weren't possible. Think about things you lose yourself in--what do you love to do. What makes you most happy? Where do you want to go? Write down whatever these things are. Free yourself to think about possibilities you might not otherwise even consider. You may want or need to have more than one "dreaming session." Those things that resonate most with you when you review your list are likely the most important to you. Give yourself permission to let yourself go--and, build the confidence to start taking the next steps to realize your dream.
Goal-setting/Planning is next. While knowing what you want is an important first step toward success, it isn't quite enough. You need to know how you're going to get there. Think about both actions and results. Be realistic about what you can do in the next few days or weeks (short-term); then, the next few months (mid-term) and the next year (longer-term) to begin moving toward realizing your dreams. Stretch yourself...
Then take action! It isn't enough just to get those goals and plans on paper. You actually have to DO something! Remember, it's OK to fail! That let's you figure out what worked, what didn't and what you need to do to move forward. YOU CAN GET THERE!
Assign yourself specific things to do; determine how you'll measure yourself to know if you're making progress. Regular accomplishments will keep you motivated and ready to take the next step, set the next goal and go for it!
Have faith in yourself; focus; follow through and you will find happiness and success!
Good Luck!
Linda Miller
If you would like help examining your values, getting to know yourself even better and focusing on what's most important to YOU; and, then setting your goals and putting your plan in place with advice on how to move forward, let's chat! We have a workshop or coaching session that will fit your needs! Call me at 612-209-1775
I recently re-read an article written by Harvey McKay, author of the New York Times Best Seller, "Swimming With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." Something he said there made me really think. He said he once heard a high school math instructor issue a challenge at a school assembly. "I hope you all fail," he said. "Because if you don't, you haven't set your goals high enough." How true! We are always so concerned with succeeding, looking good to others, not making a mistake...that we forget that we learn and grow through our mistakes and failures. By failing, we learn how to go higher and get better. If we constantly set small easy goals that don't challenge us, of course we'll hit them! But, are we growing? Are we getting better? Are we building for the future? I say, "No!" to all of the above. We NEED to fail to get better and grow.
This is never truer than when it comes to planning for your next phase of life. You can get by with not setting goals' most people never do. They go through life, taking it as it comes, and doing "whatever." They never suffer great disappointments, but they never think about what they REALLY want or if they're living life to the fullest. Come to think of it, not setting goals is tricking yourself into thinking you're succeeding when you are actually failing without admitting it to yourself! And, if you don't set goals to help you determine where you're going, how will you know when or if you get there? WOW!
So, what do we do about that? Dreaming...setting goals...putting a plan in place and then taking action will help you determine what matters most to you--what is REALLY important and help you focus there, and get you where you want to be.
Setting life goals is a two-step process: first you need to allow yourself to dream to help focus your plans on what REALLY matters to you and what you really want. Then, you need to figure out a realistic way to take actions that will get you where you want to be.
Dreaming is actually a fun and easy first step. Block out some time;commit this time to yourself. Sit down with no cell phone and no other wireless devices; get a notepad and DREAM! Think about things you've always wanted to do or have but thought weren't possible. Think about things you lose yourself in--what do you love to do. What makes you most happy? Where do you want to go? Write down whatever these things are. Free yourself to think about possibilities you might not otherwise even consider. You may want or need to have more than one "dreaming session." Those things that resonate most with you when you review your list are likely the most important to you. Give yourself permission to let yourself go--and, build the confidence to start taking the next steps to realize your dream.
Goal-setting/Planning is next. While knowing what you want is an important first step toward success, it isn't quite enough. You need to know how you're going to get there. Think about both actions and results. Be realistic about what you can do in the next few days or weeks (short-term); then, the next few months (mid-term) and the next year (longer-term) to begin moving toward realizing your dreams. Stretch yourself...
Then take action! It isn't enough just to get those goals and plans on paper. You actually have to DO something! Remember, it's OK to fail! That let's you figure out what worked, what didn't and what you need to do to move forward. YOU CAN GET THERE!
Assign yourself specific things to do; determine how you'll measure yourself to know if you're making progress. Regular accomplishments will keep you motivated and ready to take the next step, set the next goal and go for it!
Have faith in yourself; focus; follow through and you will find happiness and success!
Good Luck!
Linda Miller
If you would like help examining your values, getting to know yourself even better and focusing on what's most important to YOU; and, then setting your goals and putting your plan in place with advice on how to move forward, let's chat! We have a workshop or coaching session that will fit your needs! Call me at 612-209-1775
Monday, February 27, 2012
Reflections on "Retirement"
How will you retire? Will you retire well, make decisions about what you do and how you do it--on purpose? Or, will you just let life happen and do "whatever?"
For my first time, I'm spending the winter months at a resort in Arizona. I try to spend some time each day watching the retired folks at the resort where we are staying to see how they've retired--and how happy they seem with the decisions (or lack of decisions) they've made. I've met and talked with many of them.
I would say I'm seeing about half and half. Half of the people seem happy with their decisions and how they're spending their retirement. Some of this first half, however, do seem to wonder if they want to continue to do what they're doing now for the next 10 years or more though. And, some admit that they are "still new at this" and don't know what they don't know. The other half, however, seem to TRY to be happy with their choices. Many of them just don't seem to quite know what to do with their time. They say they enjoy just "doing nothing." (But, then, I wonder...will they want to do that for the longer term???)
Because, here's the deal. WIth longevity being what it is, we have the gift of several "bonus years"--extra years of life that we can use as we please. The typical 65-year-old today will live to be 83. One in four will live to age 90; and, one in 10 65-year-olds will live to age 95. Three million baby boomers are expected to live to age 100! That's a LOT of bonus years!! And, it's even longer if you don't really have a plan for what you are going to do with those years. And, we certainly want to be sure we make the most of all of the time we're given! I think most of us want to live each day to the fullest and and arrive "sliding into heaven." Clyd Blum, a farmer from Newport wrote a poem that explains it well.
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, in an attractive and well-preserved body..
But rather, to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'WOO HOO what a ride!'"
Now, that's how I want to live my life. I don't mean we should totally throw healthy eating, exercising and attitudes out the window. However, I do believe that we need to relax, find what we really want, focus on our dreams and "go for it!" And, I think we need to make the most of every moment we are given!
There is no right or wrong for how you choose to live in your retirement. However, it really should be a very deliberate decision! You shouldn't just let life happen. You will be much happier if you make decisions about what you want your retirement to look like--do you want to "work?" If so, you should be sure to do something that you really enjoy; it really shouldn't feel like work! If you choose to work, how much? If you don't work, how DO you want to spend your time? What is most important to you?
I ask people to consider three things: Who am I? What do I REALLY want? And, what matters most to me? Once those questions are answered, you can figure out what it will take for you to get to what you want and put a plan together to start taking those first steps.
Just like everything else, "Retirement just "ain't what it used to be"!! It takes planning and decision-making to be sure that you are truly making the most of each and every day!
Do you want to arrive in heaven with an attractive, well-preserved body, but with regrets? Or, do you want to slide in sideways and breathless, knowing you did it your way--and you did it all, that you truly lived each day to the fullest?!
If you want to discuss plans for your next phase or have questions about the programs and coaching we offer, please give me a call at 612-209-1775.
For my first time, I'm spending the winter months at a resort in Arizona. I try to spend some time each day watching the retired folks at the resort where we are staying to see how they've retired--and how happy they seem with the decisions (or lack of decisions) they've made. I've met and talked with many of them.
I would say I'm seeing about half and half. Half of the people seem happy with their decisions and how they're spending their retirement. Some of this first half, however, do seem to wonder if they want to continue to do what they're doing now for the next 10 years or more though. And, some admit that they are "still new at this" and don't know what they don't know. The other half, however, seem to TRY to be happy with their choices. Many of them just don't seem to quite know what to do with their time. They say they enjoy just "doing nothing." (But, then, I wonder...will they want to do that for the longer term???)
Because, here's the deal. WIth longevity being what it is, we have the gift of several "bonus years"--extra years of life that we can use as we please. The typical 65-year-old today will live to be 83. One in four will live to age 90; and, one in 10 65-year-olds will live to age 95. Three million baby boomers are expected to live to age 100! That's a LOT of bonus years!! And, it's even longer if you don't really have a plan for what you are going to do with those years. And, we certainly want to be sure we make the most of all of the time we're given! I think most of us want to live each day to the fullest and and arrive "sliding into heaven." Clyd Blum, a farmer from Newport wrote a poem that explains it well.
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, in an attractive and well-preserved body..
But rather, to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'WOO HOO what a ride!'"
Now, that's how I want to live my life. I don't mean we should totally throw healthy eating, exercising and attitudes out the window. However, I do believe that we need to relax, find what we really want, focus on our dreams and "go for it!" And, I think we need to make the most of every moment we are given!
There is no right or wrong for how you choose to live in your retirement. However, it really should be a very deliberate decision! You shouldn't just let life happen. You will be much happier if you make decisions about what you want your retirement to look like--do you want to "work?" If so, you should be sure to do something that you really enjoy; it really shouldn't feel like work! If you choose to work, how much? If you don't work, how DO you want to spend your time? What is most important to you?
I ask people to consider three things: Who am I? What do I REALLY want? And, what matters most to me? Once those questions are answered, you can figure out what it will take for you to get to what you want and put a plan together to start taking those first steps.
Just like everything else, "Retirement just "ain't what it used to be"!! It takes planning and decision-making to be sure that you are truly making the most of each and every day!
Do you want to arrive in heaven with an attractive, well-preserved body, but with regrets? Or, do you want to slide in sideways and breathless, knowing you did it your way--and you did it all, that you truly lived each day to the fullest?!
If you want to discuss plans for your next phase or have questions about the programs and coaching we offer, please give me a call at 612-209-1775.
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