Instead of planning to retire, do work that is so fulfilling that you never want to retire.. Why retire from something you love anyway?
Imagine waking up every morning with a spring in your step, a sparkle in your eye, and a sense of purpose driving you forward. Now, imagine feeling this way not just for a few years of your life, but for the entirety of it. That's the essence of the message encapsulated in those words. It's not about counting down the days until you can finally hang up your hat and bid farewell to the workforce. Instead, it's about crafting a life where your work is so deeply fulfilling, so intrinsically rewarding, that the notion of retirement becomes irrelevant.
Think of it this way: Imagine you have a favorite book, one that you could read over and over again without ever growing tired of its pages. It's not a chore to pick it up; instead, it's a joyous experience every time. That's what finding fulfilling work is like. It's like stumbling upon a book that speaks to your soul, that ignites your imagination, and that fills you with a sense of wonder each time you engage with it. Just as you wouldn't want to retire from reading your favorite book, why retire from doing work that brings you that same level of joy and satisfaction?
This perspective challenges the conventional wisdom that work is something to endure until you can finally escape its grasp. Instead, it suggests that work can be a source of immense joy, growth, and fulfillment. It's about finding your passion, your calling, and integrating it into your daily life in such a way that it becomes an integral part of who you are.
Consider a tree planted in fertile soil, its roots spreading deep and wide, anchoring it firmly to the earth. When a tree is nourished by its surroundings, when it's given the space to grow and flourish, it doesn't yearn for retirement. Instead, it continues to reach for the sky, to blossom and bear fruit, season after season. In the same way, when you find work that nourishes your soul, that allows you to grow and contribute in meaningful ways, the concept of retirement fades into the background.
So, rather than focusing solely on the destination of retirement, let's shift our attention to the journey of finding work that lights us up from within. Let's strive to create lives filled with purpose, passion, and fulfillment, where each day is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the world. After all, why retire from something you love anyway?
Now, ask yourself: What small step can I take today to bring more joy and fulfillment into my work and my life?
* If you're looking for more inspiration to help you on your personal development journey, you may want to check out my extensive list of SMART goals. This page is packed with thousands of different goal ideas that can help you set new aspirations and reach higher heights in your life. Personally, this page helped me to create my own 100 life goals list, which I pursued for over a decade.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
