It’s easy to feel like you’ve lost your importance in the world when your work life ends. After all, the workplace is where we devote the bulk of our time and where we find authority, mastery, and (hopefully) ego gratification. But in Chapter X, we can feel adrift, mired in self-doubt, discomfort, and a sense of loss.
We can reclaim our sense of importance with a bit of reframing and a shift in mindset. It starts with taking time to reflect on where and how we can contribute and to whom we matter. This could be a spouse, child, grandchild, friend, organization, or community where you invest your time and energy.
This morning, I was reflecting on all the clients whose lives I touched throughout my career and how intrinsic I felt to their success. I wondered how they were doing, and a thought flashed through my mind: “How are they surviving without me?” That made me chuckle. The answer was clear: they’re doing great. I did my job by ensuring they were transitioned to the right person after I retired.
Am I unimportant in the world? No! I’m just important to different people in different ways. I don’t need or want dependence, but I deeply value relationships rooted in mutual benefit, shared learning, and genuine enjoyment.
It’s time to expand the definitions we’ve accepted as truth. How can you reclaim your sense of significance if you’re relying on outdated or narrow frameworks?
