Languishing vs. Flourishing
Staying connected to meaning as we age
I’m at the age when some of my friends are starting to talk about retiring. I’m worried about retiring. Even though I’m at least 10 years away, it’s one of the things I stress about the most. I worry about my ability to sit still. I think I might languish.
A few weeks ago I listened to an interview with Corey Keyes, author of Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down. He shared multiple anecdotes, including one about an elderly man who ceased to be as engaged in the world as he got older. In his 80s, this man began to feel like his life was over. The man, who had formerly felt like he contributed significantly to the world, began to feel like he had nothing to give, that he was no longer of value.
I worry about that same thing. If I don’t have work, something to define and anchor me, who will I be? What will be my purpose? When I dig deeper into this worry I wonder what drives it. Is it me being attached to how others perceive me or is it my own internal sense of value and meaning that drives it?
The truth is, I like to work. I like to create things, to make ideas come to fruition, build connections, and ultimately feel the thrill of success. If I retire, how will I find those opportunities?
