Secrets to the Joy of Working After 60: The Power of Purpose

In this series, we continue to explore the secrets to the joy of working after sixty - all underpinned by self-responsibility and achieving self-actualization. In this blog, we explore the power of purpose.

People who experience high levels of success in their work and life report an alignment of what they do with who they are. They somehow find the magic blend of their life purpose with what they do in their work. The THRIVE Video Series^TM is a collection of interviews with women in their 60s and beyond who have achieved a level of self-actualization with this magic blend. Check out their stories shared on the YouTube channel.

As we approach our 60s, there is a bud of wisdom that reveals our “life’s work”. Work is no longer defined by our status or compensation. We thrive under our own guidance of what’s best for us. Often, that translates into what’s best for people around us and expands beyond us to the world. A happy coincidence of life that makes our transition from a “career” to a “purposeful work-life” that we always aspired to achieve.

Secret No. 2 – Find the Power of Purpose

Ask Yourself These Three Core Questions

1. Who are you? What are your core values?
2. What is your core purpose?
3. What are you trying to do with your life?

The power of these questions lies in the power of purpose. The search for one’s purpose is important, but by no means an easy task. Many of us spend our lifetime searching for true purpose. We all seek meaning from life. Everyone wants to leave footprints. Yet finding and clearly defining what that is, is elusive.

When considering our choices of transition towards retirement or continuing to work, we ponder the following questions:

1. What do I want to pass on? My knowledge?
2. What is the deep meaning of my life?
3. What will be my legacy?

The Power of Purpose and Energy

Many experts believe that we can identify our purpose by looking within ourselves. Regardless of our spiritual or philosophical beliefs, most people agree that when we act in alignment with our strengths, talents, and desires, there is a sense of heightened energy or flow. Therefore, when our purpose is aligned with our work, we become more motivated in our lives. Work no longer becomes a chore, but rather a “joy” that is reflected through our expressions and behaviour.

The key to acting with purpose and finding joy in our work after 60 is to bring together the needs of the world or business with our unique gifts in the form of a vocation – a calling – our life’s work. We apply our talents and passion to projects and the tasks that we perform. At this juncture, work becomes a way of actively making a contribution to the world or society and a way of validating our choices, our investment in our personal and professional development, and our ambition.

Ambition is Never Enough

For people to really excel in their work, they need more than just ambition. Satisfying goals, attaining numbers, receiving rewards and compensation, and attaining status is rarely enough. The “corner office” is no longer an attraction nor accessible in our current world. We are more likely to experience self-actualization by being connected to our core values and intrinsic motivators.

Determining what our internal drives are is not an easy task at any stage in our lives. Most of the time, we require the services of a professional coach to assist us in our quest. Assessment tools such as emotional intelligence (EQ-i 2.0) and retirement lifestyle options (The LifeOptions Profile™) are available to help clarify and update self-knowledge.

Are you preparing for what’s next? Are you pondering “retirement” or continuing to work? Are you currently enjoying your work after 60? Connect with me to learn more about how we can work together to create the work-life style you always dreamt about.

If you are enjoying your work after 60 and would like to participate in the THRIVE Video Series^TM, here is my invitation to learn more. Check out the stories shared on the YouTube channel.

Let me know how you are doing. I would like to hear from you. You can reach me on LinkedIn, and on Maestro’s Facebook. Or click to Get in Touch.

Learn more about self-responsibility and self-actualization in the model of emotional intelligence. Check out the THRIVE in Work and Life^TM programs. Check out the online mini-course Your Building Blocks to Emotional Well-Being and Resilience.

Reading resources

Leider, R. J. (2015). The Power of Purpose: Finding Meaning, Live Longer, Better.