Who Am I Without My Work? - George Jerjian

Send us Fan Mail Retirement is supposed to be the reward at the end of decades of work. But when the diary clears and the job title disappears, it can leave us facing a much bigger question: Who am I without the role I’ve played for so long? In this episode, I’m joined by retirement transition expert George Jerjian to explore what really happens when we step away from paid work, and why retirement can become one of the biggest identity changes of our lives. George shares his own experience of reaching this point in 2016, including the 30-day silent retreat that gave him the space to look honestly at the life he had lived and consider what might come next. We talk about the strange in-between territory of retirement, when the old version of life has ended but the new one hasn’t quite taken shape, and why simply withdrawing from active life can leave people feeling lost, disconnected and without purpose. We also explore the practical side of creating a meaningful next chapter. George takes us through his DARE method — Discover, Assimilate, Rewire and Expand — and how it can help us uncover who we are beyond our careers, responsibilities and old identities. We talk about growth mindset, finding clues to what brings us alive through experiences of flow, the role fear can play in pointing us towards something meaningful, and why our physical and emotional wellbeing — including something as fundamental as sleep — can influence the decisions we make about what comes next. Drawing on his research with people across the English-speaking world, George also shares what he has learned about the people who thrive after retirement and those who struggle to find their footing. Whether retirement is still somewhere on the horizon, has recently arrived, or you’ve been there for years and find yourself wondering, “Is this it?”, this conversation is an invitation to see retirement differently — as an opportunity to discover what you want the next chapter of your life to be. Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast