Retirement and identiy issues
We do not shed our personalities, our life views, or our habits when we retire. These become the basis of building our new understanding of our new role and our new responsibilities. Having a sense of who you are, in the context of culture and community, may help you see how you can continue to contribute to your world.
The terms self-concept and self-identity define how we see ourselves. Scientists have found that the body's cells largely replace themselves every 7 to 10 years. In other words, old cells mostly die and are replaced by new ones during this time span. The cell renewal process happens more quickly in certain parts of the body, but head-to-toe rejuvenation can take up to a decade. This reality means that we become a new person every ten years or so, however, there may be some aspects of our identity that are relatively stable over time.
Mid-life and retirement are two periods in which one phase of life ends, and we have to dig deep to replace what we may have lost. At this point, some of us may experience a potential identity crisis. Ageing can bring physical limitations or outright elimination of some activities such as hard labour or playing contact sports.
Retirement can cause us to struggle with identity issues. Many can be surprised by the ways in which retirement adjustment can evoke past issues. Self-awareness is a critical influence on an individual’s ability to assimilate or accommodate feedback, especially feedback received from their social environment. Taking stock of one’s life upon becoming a retiree, however, is common.
Our reflections upon the past can take various forms. Some of us may be consumed by nostalgia while others can be troubled by regret for lost opportunities. Others of us might be aware of influences that we think shaped us, but have the wrong ideas of how certain episodes shaped us. Increased awareness of how one’s identity has developed might better equip present and future retirees to understand and cope with the challenges to identity that are triggered by retirement. Adjustments may come from an updating of the foundations of identity laid in prior years.
Life Lessons
Articles from Royce Shook
View blogIn a time when an ice cream sundae was more affordable, a 10-year-old boy went into a hotel's coffee ...
My thanks to my cousin Irene for this and she received it from Karen · The telephone rang. · It was ...
My thanks to Aubrey and Ron for the following stories which will be posted over the next few days. · ...
Related professionals
You may be interested in these jobs
-
Shop Foreman
Found in: Talent CA C2 - 4 days ago
Rocky Mountain Equipment Grimshaw, Canada Full time - PermJOB TITLE: Shop Foreman · POSITION TYPE: Permanent – Full Time · BRANCH: Grimshaw AB · REPORTING TO: Service Sales Manager · The Canadian agriculture industry is growing, and you could be part of the momentum with Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME). The largest independent dealer o ...
-
Chef, Cheffe de service à la permanence
Found in: Talent CA C2 - 1 day ago
CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Montreal, Canada Contrat permanentGrandissez avec nous et façonnez le réseau de la santé de demain. · Mission · Nous croyons en la valeur inestimable de chacun et chacune dentre nous. Nous savons quensemble, nous pouvons tous et toutes changer les choses. Le Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services ...
-
Représentant Ventes Internes
Found in: Talent CA C2 - 4 days ago
EMCO Corporation Montreal, Canada Temps pleinDescription du poste · Dispenser un service exceptionnel à nos entrepreneurs, y compris répondre aux clients qui se présentent au comptoir des pièces, fournir des soumissions, offrir un soutien technique et répondre à toutes autres demandes des clients. · Traiter les commandes d ...
Comments