• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Retirement Wisdom

Retire Smarter

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us – Retirement Wisdom – What’s Next?
    • In The News
    • Testimonials
    • Coaches
  • Tools
    • Quiz
    • Calculators
  • Programs
    • Tiny Habits®
    • Design Your Life®
    • Retirement
    • Forced to Retire Early?
  • Insights
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Best Books
  • Community
    • Join
  • Schedule A Call
Retire happy? Purpose & meaning are better

The Power of Meaning

Retirement Wisdom · Dec 9, 2017 ·

by Emily Esfahani Smith (2017 – Crown Publishing Group)

Book Review by Joe Casey

At Retirement Wisdom, we’re big on of purpose. In fact, studies have found that your longevity may even depend on it.

Yet, purpose is one of those subjects that I sometimes find hard to get my arms around. I wonder about how someone discovers their purpose – particularly when they transition from their primary career to their next chapter. I always feel like it requires a lengthy trip to mountains and extensive navel-gazing. That will need to wait for another day. Someday. Maybe.

It turns out that the mountains are optional. Emily Esfahani Smith uses an entertaining mix of wisdom from philosophers, research and stories to break this topic down. She draws useful distinctions between the related topics of purpose, happiness and meaning and illustrates the connection between purpose and identity.

She outlines the four pillars of a life of meaning – belonging, purpose story-telling and transcending beyond yourself. I found Esfahani Smith’s writing on the story-telling pillar, in particular, to be especially valuable. She describes the powerful role that narrative can play in rediscovering purpose. Approaching retirement, how you envision and craft the story of your next chapters can make all the difference.

Retirement is a major life transition and rediscovering your purpose is an important part of successfully navigating it. I highly recommend this book as an excellent way to begin exploring your purpose. It contains a wealth of practical knowledge and insights that can aid your journey.

 

Buy the Power of Meaning on Amazon

 

Listen to our conversation with the author on The Retirement Wisdom podcast here

 

 

Related Book Reviews You May Like:

 

Purpose and a Paycheck

 

Purposeful Retirement

 

About Retirement Wisdom

Are you retiring, but not done yet? Our coaches can help you create a retirement that’s a great one. A 20+ retirement is a terrible thing to waste. Design your life in retirement for more clarity, direction, and a sense of purpose aligned with your true values.

 

 

Primary Sidebar

FREE Newsletter

What Will Your “Retirement” Story Be? Wisdom Notes keeps ideas and inspiring stories coming your way once a month as you create your own.

Free Ebook!

Download our free “7 Traps in Planning for Life in Retirement – And How You Can Avoid Them” guide so you don’t get stuck in these common pitfalls.

Footer

192 Nassau Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08542

What We Do

Our Coaches
Schedule A Call

Insights

One on One Coaching
Listen to Our Podcast
Retirement Wisdom Blogs

Contact Us

[email protected]
+1(609) 921 1521

Terms of UsePrivacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Retirement Wisdom Design By Steck Insights Web Design Logo