Average Retirement May Lead to Disappointment

The Retirement Myth is a commonly held belief that guarantees an Average Retirement, in which retirees struggle to create a truly remarkable life.

Many people buy into this myth and envision a retirement filled with relaxation, withdrawal, and few challenges. However, this way of thinking can limit retirees and prevent them from reaching their full potential in their later years.

I have had the opportunity to analyze conversations with hundreds of clients and thousands of retirees about their hopes and fears for retirement. Through these conversations, I have learned that many retirees seek a carefree life filled with more time for hobbies, travel, and relaxation. Unfortunately, this desire is often a result of the Retirement Myth, which can lead to disappointment, frustration, and malaise.

Retirement is typically associated with stopping work and stepping back from one's career, which may explain why the beach scene is frequently used to depict the ideal retirement.

If you Google "retirement" and click on images, you'll see that over 60% of the photo results feature a beach. The beach theme shows up in articles, commercials, advertisements, book covers, podcast art, and in many other areas related to the topic of retirement. But when did sitting on your ass and staring at the ocean become the rallying cry for life in retirement? A vacation is certainly enjoyable, but your entire life?

The notion that retirement is all about relaxation and withdrawal is misguided and can prevent retirees from creating a fulfilling and rewarding life in their later years.

Retirees who buy into the Retirement Myth often struggle to find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their lives. They may lack a sense of direction or may feel like they've lost their identity since retiring.

However, retirees who reject the Retirement Myth and seek to create a fulfilling life in their later years can achieve remarkable things.

They can start a new business, volunteer in their community, travel the world, learn a new language, or write a book. The possibilities are endless.

In conclusion, the Retirement Myth is a limiting belief that can prevent retirees from creating a remarkable life in their later years. Retirees who reject this myth and seek to create a fulfilling and rewarding life can achieve remarkable things and experience a truly badass retirement.

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