Hey there, my friend!

How was your weekend? Do you ever ask yourself…

• “What is my purpose now that I'm retired?”

• "How can I make a difference in the world?"

• "What legacy do I want to leave behind?"

Many of us have worked all of our lives. Retirement often marks the end of a long career, which can leave retirees grappling with a loss of identity. Work provides structure, goals, and a sense of purpose. Without it, we often struggle to define ourselves and find meaning in our daily lives.

Some of us worry about losing relevance or feeling insignificant in a society that often values productivity and professional accomplishments. We might wonder if our skills and experiences are still valuable or if we have something meaningful to contribute.

Many of us embark on a journey of self-discovery to find a new sense of purpose. However, the process of finding a new purpose can be challenging and may take time.

Let’s talk about that journey today my friends, and explore some of the ideas I think may help us rediscover our purpose.

A Place Where There Are No Mistakes

Before we dive into our conversation about purpose, I wanted to share with you a short video that really moved me.

It’s a story about a restaurant in Tokyo called the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, and it's unlike any other place you've seen. The restaurant employs elderly waiters and waitresses who have varying degrees of memory loss. The video beautifully captures their journey and how they're included in society despite their condition. It's heartwarming, and inspiring, and reminds us of the importance of compassion and understanding and the power of purpose. 

Click here to watch the video (2 mins).

Trust me, watching this video will leave you with a renewed perspective and a smile on your face. Give it a watch and prepare to be moved by their incredible story!

Why is finding purpose so hard?

I just watched this thought-provoking video that explores the search for purpose in our lives and how technology can hinder that journey. It's really fascinating, and I think you should definitely check it out!

Click here to watch the video (24 mins).

You know how we're always glued to our screens, constantly scrolling through social media, binge-watching shows, or checking messages? Well, that excessive use of technology can distract us from our inner voice and prevent us from truly understanding what truly matters to us.

By cutting down on technology stimulation, we create space for self-reflection and introspection. It allows us to reconnect with ourselves, our passions, and our values. It's about stepping away from the noise and finding moments of quiet contemplation.

So, how can you do it?

Give this video a watch. It offers valuable insights on finding purpose and reminds us to strike a healthy balance between technology and our inner selves. It might just inspire you to embark on your own quest for purpose and live a more fulfilling life.

Where do we begin to find our purpose?

One of the ways to start our exploration is to take a closer look at the abilities we have. I just watched this fascinating video that breaks down the “11 Abilities in Life” and how they can guide you toward finding your passions and purpose.

Click here to watch the video (9 mins).

Let me quickly run you through a few of the abilities mentioned. First up, we have Musical Ability. If you have a strong affinity for music, it means you might be good at playing musical instruments, singing, or composing music. And guess what? There are actually many paths for people who excel in this ability, like music-related content creation, working on audio for films and videos, and even sound design in general.

Moving on, we have Natural Ability. This is for those who enjoy spending time in nature, love plants and animals, and understand how everything in nature is connected. Possible paths for this ability include cooking, farming, working with animals, working with medicine, and even fields related to the environment.

Another fascinating ability is Movement Ability. People who excel in this enjoy moving their bodies, from large explosive movements to the most fine-tuned ones. They have the power to control individual muscles and do amazing things that may seem impossible to others. Possible paths for movement enthusiasts include sports, dance, fine craftsmanship, personal training, and even martial arts.

We also have Interpersonal Abilities and Intrapersonal Abilities. Interpersonal Ability is all about understanding the relationships between people, reading body language, and being good at conversations. This ability can be valuable for careers in sales, social content creation, event planning, relationship counseling, and even law enforcement. Intrapersonal Ability, on the other hand, is about having a deep understanding of oneself and being able to reflect and adjust. This is important for self-improvement and can be applied in professions like therapy, self-improvement coaching, and motivational speaking.

Now, I won't go through all 11 abilities, but the video covers even more, like Logical Ability, Linguistic Ability, Digital Ability, Visual Ability, Teaching Ability, and Spiritual Ability. Each has its own unique characteristics and possible paths associated with them.

Oh, and before I forget, the video suggests a cool way to figure out which abilities resonate with you.

I highly recommend checking out this video, especially if you've been thinking about finding your passion or exploring different retirement paths. It's relatable, easy to follow, and might just spark some inspiration in you. Let me know which three abilities resonate with you the most after watching it—I'm genuinely curious to hear your thoughts!

The Dharma Approach to Finding Your Purpose

Check out this amazing video by Jay Shetty where he simplifies finding your passion and purpose. He introduces the concepts of Ikigai and Dharma, which help us understand our reason for being.

Click here to watch the video (9 mins).

Passion starts with curiosity and evolves into a purpose when combined with compassion and expertise. It's about finding what excites you, serving others with your passion, and investing in skills to make a meaningful impact. Give it a watch and discover your purpose!

Questions to Help Reveal Your Purpose

To help us discover our own purpose, Margaret from Sixty and Me shares some thought-provoking questions from Gloria, who runs a website called Revivement. These questions ask us about what motivates us, what activities we're drawn to, and what brings us joy in our spare time. By reflecting on these questions, we can identify our passions and interests, which will inspire us to take action and discover our purpose.

1. What motivated you in the past to overcome challenges?

2. What activities have you been drawn to throughout your life?

3. What activities did you love to do as a child?

4. Can you think of an activity you enjoyed so much that made the time fly?

5. What have you done in your spare time that you've enjoyed?

6. What are the topics, types of movies, books, documentaries, or places that you like to explore or read about?

Click here to watch the video (11 mins).

Margaret shares a personal story about her landlady who, in her 80s, found purpose in tending to her garden and cooking. It made me realize that purpose doesn't have an age limit. We can find it at any stage of life. It's all about doing what we love and enjoying the activities that make time fly.

The video also highlights the positive impact of having a purpose. It amplifies happiness and makes the bad days more manageable. Our brain doesn't know the difference between real and perceived joy, so by having a positive attitude and a sense of purpose, we can trick our brains into feeling happier.

But here's the best part: having a purpose can also benefit us physically and mentally. Margaret mentions a study that shows how purposeful people are less likely to develop degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. It's incredible how something as simple as having a purpose can have such a profound impact on our overall well-being.

So grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and let Margaret's words inspire you to find your own sense of purpose.

Join the Live Conversation

Finding Purpose, Wellness, and Community After 60

Come and join this ongoing conversation every Friday about the challenges of life transitions, aging, culture, and health among other things. Make new friends and share stories about your experiences in life. This gathering introduces concepts that may help to broaden your perspective in life.

3:00PM ET / 2:00PM CT / 1:00PM MT / 12:00PM PT

What did you think about our conversation today?

Would you do me a favor and take a moment to click the button below and share your feedback? This would help me improve our newsletter and bring you the most meaningful experience.

If you have any questions, want to share your own experiences, or need further guidance, you can also hit the REPLY button. I’m here, waiting to connect with you and support you on your journey.

That’s a whole lot of purpose for today! This will keep you going until we meet again next week.

Same place, same time next week?

Sending You Lots of Joy,

~Yasmin