Managing Our Transition into Retirement with Guest Heather Orengia

09/13/24 • 29 min

U Can Do It with Michael McGinnis: Inspiring Growth ~ Igniting Potential

As we enter into Retirement we once again realize that there are a number of new challenges we face, just as there were when we entered our earlier stages; adolescent, young adult, adult, and mid-life. Our ability to be adapt effectively and make the most out of each stage is a direct function of educating ourselves on the changes that willl likely occur and how to manage these transitions. For example, as we become a young adult, we must learn how to take responsibility for our lives as we gain independence, develop more serious relationships, manage our own finances, make adult decisions, define our own values and beliefs, and begin to define who and what we want to be in our life. Most primarily learn about each new stage of life using the "School of Hard Knocks" approach which can be daunting and riddled with challenges.
The same is true of Retirement. However, by educating ourselves on the phases of Retirement and the many types of changes and challenges we are likely to experience, can help us to manage our transition better with more foresight and planning.
This podcast will share two key frameworks to help you manage your transition into any stage of life, including retirement. The first is understanding change and the stages of change. Change is actually a process and we will use the work of William Bridges and his model of change to learn how to better prepare for, and manage, personal change.
The second framework relates to the Emotions of Change. Once again there is a process we go through as we experience high level change. We will use the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross to understand the emotions of change.
We are fortunate once again to have as our guest, Heather Orengia, who is a coach and uses these frameworks to help guide her clients.
Here is to learning how to make the most out of our retirement!!!

Previous Episode

Becoming Our Full Potential As We Get Older Getting Older or is it “Getting B-older” with guest Heather Orengia

During our working years we dream about the day that we can retire. Our understanding of "retirement" is largely shaped by the billboards showing couples playing golf and traveling the world. Our only focus is on funding our 401K so that we have enough to retire. This however is challenged by having to use our funds marked for retirement to purchase a home, cover medical and other bills, or fund our transition between jobs. "Retirement for boomers is different than it was for their parents in the so-called Silent Generation. Life expectancy has improved, and today’s 65-year-old can expect to live at least another 20 years. About 80% of households with older adults — or 47 million such households — are struggling today with money. And they risk falling into economic insecurity as they age, the National Council on Aging says."
It is not just finances that challenge us with this thing called retirement. After 40 plus years of working, raising a family, being a soccer Mom or Dad, our identity or how we see ourselves revolves around these roles. Abruptly these come to an end with the onset of an Empty Nest and no longer working. "Retirement can lead to a loss of identity for many people because work can be an important part of who they are, and retirement can take away that sense of purpose and meaning. This can lead to feelings of uncertainty, restlessness, and a lack of purpose."
Upon entering retirement, which can amount to 1/3 of our life, our excitement can quickly transition into the "3 - D's" as noted by Dr. Riley Moynes, that stand for, "Divorce, Depression and Decline". This was the case for me, and now I have come to realize are common to many of those that I coach. What I realized is that there is a lack of understanding about what retirement really is like, along with the many changes that we experience throughout this time. I found myself back at the beginning of the growth process, having to go through the stages of Personal Growth, Self-discovery, and Enlightenment once again. Our guest talks about the loss of her grandfather shortly after he retired, which can be a direct result of these challenges. We begin to confront our own mortality which can be a daunting task in a society that tends to avoid these conversations.
Our goal here is to provide a means of education, conversation, and tips to be a guide and inspiration to learn how to prepare for and deal with the major life transition. The good news is that this can be an amazing time and learning how to "squeeze all the juice out of what is left in our life." The key is education, and then applying tools and techniques to help develop a new mindset about our life, and in a way that promotes greater physical, mental, social, and spiritual growth, leading to a happier and more meaningful time, as we define new meaning and purpose.
Join our conversation that will cover several podcasts as we zoom in on this topic.

Next Episode

The Emotional Roller-Coaster of Retirement and How To Manage This with Guest Heather Orengia

In our last podcast we talked about the challenges associated with entering retirement. We shared two models to discuss this: 1) William Bridges Stages of Change to understand the 3 stages and how they relate to retirement, and 2) Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Grief and Loss Model that describes the emotional roller coaster associated with change. This sets the stage for this podcast where we will zoom in and focus on emotions such as Shock & Denial, Anger, and Depression and how they can play out in retirement. Consider the following excerpt from the article, Retirement: From Grief to Growth
"Most people avoid using the word "retirement" when it comes to their own careers. The reality is that retirement marks a significant life transition, one that is often accompanied by a complex array of emotions. Preparing to leave a career spanning decades can stir up feelings of grief, long before your actual departure. This anticipatory grief is a natural response to the loss of something that has defined a significant part of your life. Gallup has even found that 55% of workers’ identities are tied to their job. The authority, responsibility and routine that you have become accustomed to for many years prior to your retirement can be hard to let go of. When you lose these most fulfilling aspects of your career life as you head into retirement, you will have to find ways to fill the void you’ve left behind."
This podcast will feature Coach Heather Orengia who will share information on dealing with challenging emotions related to retirement. Michael will share his own experience with entering into retirement relating to the emotional roller coaster relating to challenges such as ageism, divorce, and the loss of identify.
This discussion relates to anyone experiencing major changes, not just retirement. The win here is understanding the normal and natural emotional response to major changes and the importance of learning how to manage these tough emotions in a healthy manner.