Franchise Your Business
We are living in a moment of abundant opportunities. Perhaps this sounds unrealistic and/or untimely given the tragic loss of so many lives and livelihoods during this pandemic. But the pandemic taught us all a lot; primarily about ourselves and others. We have all felt the magnitude of the moment and the varying degrees of adversity we have all been dealt. But one thing is clear: the pandemic revealed new growth opportunities in the ways we learn, work, lead and live.
Entrepreneurship is no longer just a business term anymore. It is a way of life.
We have all been forced to reflect on what really matters to us as individuals, as leaders and as entrepreneurs – and how our decisions moving forward can have an indelible impact on the changing world around us. With so many opportunities to reinvent yourself as a business, leader and individual – instead of seeing each of these three distinct areas as disconnected parts. Seize them as one healthier whole.
Oftentimes we don’t seize opportunities, simply because we don’t know how to see them with the clarity required to accurately project the final outcome. As such, it becomes more difficult to explain the opportunities and gain buy-in from others. This is especially the case now, where most people have strong opinions that may not necessarily be their own and/or they are not opened-minded enough to appreciate other points of view.
As you embark on new opportunities (albeit a personal or professional goal, a new business idea, a strategic partnership, new relationships, etc.); here are three ways to help you navigate and guide your entrepreneurial spirit:
1. Broaden your observations
Opportunities are everywhere, yet few have the eyes to see them. Don’t just see and examine the opportunities that are right in front of you, but also those that lie around, beneath and beyond the obvious. This is why it’s so important to know yourself and trust yourself. It’s easy for someone else’s opinion to misguide your thinking, but when you know what you aim to achieve, it gives you the right amount of focus and patience to anticipate and explore for more. And remember, in the process of seeing the opportunity you were looking for, you may discover other opportunities along the way that may give you more clarity around your original intentions. For example, when I wrote my first book, it was initially intended to be a book about my father’s wisdom. When I shared it with a friend that knew someone that was in the publishing industry, it became something more significant. And now, 14 years later, I am a senior advisor to Fortune 500s and entrepreneurs the world over.
2. Adopt a farmer’s mentality
As the wise farmer once said, “You’ll never know which seed is going to grow without planting it first.” The wise entrepreneur knows this lesson well because oftentimes it takes too much time for the seed to flourish into an abundant harvest. What’s the point: keep planting seeds and allow your broadened observations to guide you. We must all adopt a farmer’s mentality if we are to discover our distinct place and position during this moment of abundant opportunities.
While many in the business world would refer to this mentality, along the lines of “creating multiple streams of income” (much like the farmer would harvest different types of crops), the key is to water each seed you plant with focus and intention. And if you do this right, you will not only multiply your opportunities, but you will find them to be interconnected in ways to strengthen the healthier whole. For example, now that I am working on my fourth book, I know exactly why I am writing it, the multiple audiences it will impact and how it will convert into multiple revenue streams. But it took me years to understand the formula that best supported my goals and objectives that are centered around creating future legacies. I’ve now learned how to plant the right seeds (and how not to); at the right time (that is not defined by me, but by others), to ensure my goals and objectives are met. Again, not all the seeds will grow, but if you’re planting them with the right focus and intention, the most significant seeds will.
3. Build momentum
How often have your heard this: “yeah, that’s a great idea you should do something with it.” And then what happens? Often, nothing – because people are not proficient in creating and sustaining any type of real momentum.
Creating momentum is the most critical, yet hardest thing for people to do. Why? Because most people embark on opportunities without knowing their inventory and access to resources. Not just money, but more so, relationships. We oftentimes think not having enough money is the problem. That is so far from the truth (this is why many great opportunities are lost by one person and seized by another).
Momentum is built through relationships that are willing to test drive your ideas. But don’t be mistaken, these relationships must be earned over time. For example, if you were to ask five people to support the opportunity you are trying to grow, can you say that you have supported them consistently in the past with their ideas? Have you earned the right to ask people for their support?
Building momentum can come in many forms. But your ability to have cultivated and earned strong relationships are vital to your ability to seize opportunities.
Opportunities come and go, but it is your responsibility to share them with others along the way. Nothing is a secret anymore. It’s about being prepared and doing something about it when the moment calls.
Now is the most abundant time to begin your journey.
Our 60s are one of the most important transition periods of our lives. With our kids out of the house, our social context is changing. Retirement is “in sight,” even if we don’t plan on quitting our jobs any time soon. Turning 60 is also the time when many of us start to question our place in the world. We may even look at our lives and ask, “Is this it? Surely I was meant to do something more!”
If you are like many older adults, you may be wondering how to reinvent yourself after 60. Perhaps you are tired of feeling out of shape and want to make a commitment to living a healthier life. Or maybe, after 40+ years working for someone else, you are ready to create a business of your own. Perhaps you simply want to find ways to give back to the world, now that your kids are off building their own lives.
Since starting Sixty and Me, I have loved listening to all of your stories of reinvention. We have people in our community who have gone back to school, changed careers, started sky-diving and dedicated their weekends to supporting their favorite charities.
I’d like to share a few of the lessons that I have learned from these amazing people who have found happiness and fulfillment in their lives.
Here are 4 absolutely essential steps to reinventing yourself after 60.
I love the scene in Alice in Wonderland, where Alice asks the Cheshire Cat which path she should take. The cat replies that it depends where she wants to go.
This sounds obvious, but, you would be amazed how many people miss this step on their reinvention journey. They are so eager to “get started” or “do something” that they set off randomly, chasing one whim after another.
As a starting point, I would encourage you to take out a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
What do I value most in this world?
What do I feel is missing most from my life?
When have I felt happiest? What was I doing and who was I with?
What am I good at? Which of these talents do I actually enjoy?
What do I think is wrong with the world?
How do I want my life to be 10 years from now?
What do I want to fix most in my life?
What do I like most about my life?
These questions are just a starting point. I’m sure that you can come up with others that relate to the kind of reinvention that you are looking for. It’s important to make these questions a part of a “living document.” Don’t write your answers once and assume that your job is done. Return to these questions every few months to see how your perspective has changed. You may be surprised!
When you decide to reinvent your life after 60, the tendency may be to focus on big achievements. If you want to get in shape, you may rush out to join a gym. If you want to fix your financial situation, you may decide to sell everything that isn’t “essential.” In my experience, very few people thrive with this kind of approach. Oh, sure, they feel great for a few days. Then, as the adrenaline wears off, they go back to their old habits.
Ironically, the best way to reinvent yourself after 60 is to start with small steps that you can apply consistently. One place to start is with your answers to the questions in the previous section.
Try to find one small action that you can take every day. For example, if your health is a concern, set aside 5 minutes every morning to stretch. Set a timer and resist the urge to exercise for longer. Then, every day, increase your morning exercise time by one minute. Within a month, you will be exercising for more than half an hour. More importantly, you will have established a habit that will be hard to break.
What small step are you going to take today to build your new life?
The road to reinvention can be a lonely one. As a result, it pays to have people on your side – people who understand what you are trying to achieve. If you have a spouse, share your dreams with them. Ask for their support and encouragement. You may be surprised by their reaction.
Beyond your family, there are so many people in the world who share your passions. You may not feel like joining a club or organization at first, but, don’t rule this out in the future. As you establish good habits and your confidence grows, look for ways to share your passions with others.
After decades looking after your family, it may feel strange to focus on yourself. You may even feel like you are the only person who thinks that your passions are important. This is certainly not the case.
Many people in the Sixty and Me community have told me that their road to reinvention actually started when they decided to declutter their lives. Prior to doing this, it was as if they had too many programs running in their heads. With so many people and things to take care of, there simply wasn’t enough mental energy left at the end of the day to sort out their own lives.
Take an inventory of the people, places and commitments in your life. Are there things that you never use that you could sell or give to a worthy cause? Are there people in your life that make you unhappy? Are there commitments that you took on when you were in a different context that continue to suck up your time and energy? Maybe it’s time to let these things go!
As with every other aspect of reinventing yourself after 60, it pays to take the decluttering process slowly. Don’t be in a hurry to change everything at once. If you remove one unnecessary item from your life every day, your life will be decluttered in no time.
I hope that you found these 4 essential steps useful and that they help you to get on the path to building the life that you deserve!
Are you planning on reinventing yourself? What do you want to change most in your life now that you are in your 60s or better? What advice would you give to the other members of our community when it comes to reinvention after 60? Please join the conversation and “like” and share this article to keep the discussion going!
Last Updated: December 11, 2020 References Approved
This article was co-authored by Lucy Yeh. Lucy Yeh is a Human Resources Director, Recruiter, and Certified Life Coach (CLC) with over 20 years of experience. With a training background with Coaching for Life and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at InsightLA, Lucy has worked with professionals of all levels to improve the quality of their careers, personal/professional relationships, self marketing, and life balance.
There are 23 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 215,923 times.
Reinventing yourself doesn’t mean taking baby steps to become a slightly different person — it means diving into a new and improved version of yourself head-first. Truly reinventing yourself, whether you want to change your career, your outlook, or the way you view your relationships, is hard work, but it pays off tenfold. If you want to reinvent yourself, you have to make a game plan, address your flaws, and never stop learning.
Lucy Yeh
Life Coach Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.
- Write down the big changes you want to make. Maybe you want to lose a considerable amount of weight; maybe you want to learn to be generous; maybe you want to go from working on Wall Street to being a scuba diving instructor. Whatever big changes you want to make, write them down, and make a list of how you can go about accomplishing those goals.
- Write down the small changes, too. Though reinventing yourself takes big leaps, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the new you won’t be, either. Make a list of small things that can slowly help you build up to your new life. This could be learning to meditate in the morning, volunteering in your community for just an hour a week, or eating more fruits and vegetables every day.
What are some of the benefits of making a list of specific ways you want to change?
Want more quizzes?
Lucy Yeh
Life Coach Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.
Lucy Yeh
Life Coach Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.
Feeling stuck? Want to reinvent yourself? Want to have a totally new and exciting life? Then it sounds like you are ready and excited to reinvent your life. So keep reading for my guide on how to reinvent yourself!
It is a terrible feeling to feel stuck. To feel like you are trapped and you don’t love who you are now and the direction you are going. But thankfully you can change all of that!
You are completely capable of reinventing yourself and working towards creating the future you want and the life you deserve. This guide is the first step in achieving that and becoming the person you truly want to become!
This guide is broke down into two helpful parts: what does it mean to reinvent yourself and how can you reinvent yourself. So keep reading to start reinventing!
*** This article may contain affiliate links that I receive a small commission off of. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I always appreciate any support to keep this site running! Thank you!***
What does it mean to reinvent yourself?
Reinventing yourself has a lot of parts to it- so let’s break those down.
Goals and Dreams–
Your goals and dreams are probably a large part of what motivated you to start reinventing yourself and they are probably a large part of what is going to look different in your new self.
In order to reinvent your life you have to look at what you want to achieve and what you want your life to look like!
So sit down and grab a notebook and start jotting down goals and dreams. I recommend doing goals for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years from now. And also creating a vision board to really visualize these dreams.
Routines and Habits–
the next part of reinventing yourself is adjusting your routines and habits. You can’t change your overall life if you don’t change the little things you do during the day.
I recommend writing down and creating new daily routines. Especially focusing on creating the morning and night routine that will be filled with habits and tasks that benefit the person you want to become.
Not sure what that looks like? Then check out these positive morning routine habits you can add and these 10 ideas for your bedtime routine!
Personal Growth–
Developing as a person and creating a new and improved mindset is a large part of what it means to reinvent yourself.
Work on developing yourself into a new and better person!
This is a large part but is also the most complicated. What your personal growth journey looks like will involve a lot of different steps and ideas. It will be deeply personal to what you need to do to grow into being the person you want to be after you are done reinventing yourself.
Physical Aspects-
There are a lot of intangible things on this list but there are also physical aspects to reinventing yourself as well.
That doesn’t just mean your body, it also means things like where you live, your education, your career. Anything that exists outside of your mind is a physical attribute to reinventing yourself.
“It’s time to become the person you always wanted to be”
Steps for how to Reinvent yourself?
There are so many ways you can start reinventing yourself and creating the life you want based on what you envisioned above! But a few ideas and tips are:
- Write down SMART goals- for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years from now. Remember to keep the goals all measurable and attainable.
- Get educated– even if you already have a PHD you may need to get a totally different degree for what you want your career to be post-reinventing yourself. You can also take online courses or get certificates depending on your dreams!
- Try new things– you can never become the person you want to during your reinvention if you never leave your comfort zone. So try to leave your comfort zone at least once a month by trying something new!
“You will never grow if you stay in your comfort zone”
- Explore career options- unfortunately chances are part of reinventing yourself requires you to make and keep making money! Your reinvention doesn’t have to include a career change but it may so keep an open mind and explore new career options!
- Don’t worry about others opinions- if you are stressing about others opinions you will never truly be able to reinvent yourself! So remind yourself anything you worry about judgement that you are becoming who you want to be.
- Explore new hobbies– part of your new self will probably involve new hobbies! So try finding a hobby that you are passionate about and will help you be happy. Here is a list of 20 hobbies to check out!
- Relocate– this can be a drastic step but sometimes a relocation is necessary for truly reinventing yourself. For some this could be a lot more difficult but it can also be an amazing way to really force yourself to take the steps you want to in order to reinvent yourself.
- Prioritize your physical health– your physical health needs to stay a top priority in your life and during your reinvention you can work towards creating positive habits that will help you with this. Try things like finding a fun physical activity that fits into your new lifestyle.
- Take care of your mental health- mental health is also just as important! So remember to take care of your mental health and if your mental health is not currently in peak condition make sure to use this opportunity to re-evaluate it and seek ways to improve your mental health.
- Make fun physical changes– this is probably the most cliche way and most visible way to re-invent yourself but changing up something on your physical appearance can be a great way to get this reinvention rolling. Try things like cutting your hair, dying your hair, getting a tattoo, getting in super good shape, etc! Whatever fits your image of who you want to be!
So go out there and become the amazing and awesome person you are meant to be. Remember no matter your age or where you are in life you can always reinvent yourself to be a new and improved version of you!
I hope these tips for how to reinvent yourself give you the tips and guidance you were looking for! If so then keep scrolling so you can stay in the know with my newest content.
Korra-Shay
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Franchise Your Business
We are living in a moment of abundant opportunities. Perhaps this sounds unrealistic and/or untimely given the tragic loss of so many lives and livelihoods during this pandemic. But the pandemic taught us all a lot; primarily about ourselves and others. We have all felt the magnitude of the moment and the varying degrees of adversity we have all been dealt. But one thing is clear: the pandemic revealed new growth opportunities in the ways we learn, work, lead and live.
Entrepreneurship is no longer just a business term anymore. It is a way of life.
We have all been forced to reflect on what really matters to us as individuals, as leaders and as entrepreneurs – and how our decisions moving forward can have an indelible impact on the changing world around us. With so many opportunities to reinvent yourself as a business, leader and individual – instead of seeing each of these three distinct areas as disconnected parts. Seize them as one healthier whole.
Oftentimes we don’t seize opportunities, simply because we don’t know how to see them with the clarity required to accurately project the final outcome. As such, it becomes more difficult to explain the opportunities and gain buy-in from others. This is especially the case now, where most people have strong opinions that may not necessarily be their own and/or they are not opened-minded enough to appreciate other points of view.
As you embark on new opportunities (albeit a personal or professional goal, a new business idea, a strategic partnership, new relationships, etc.); here are three ways to help you navigate and guide your entrepreneurial spirit:
1. Broaden your observations
Opportunities are everywhere, yet few have the eyes to see them. Don’t just see and examine the opportunities that are right in front of you, but also those that lie around, beneath and beyond the obvious. This is why it’s so important to know yourself and trust yourself. It’s easy for someone else’s opinion to misguide your thinking, but when you know what you aim to achieve, it gives you the right amount of focus and patience to anticipate and explore for more. And remember, in the process of seeing the opportunity you were looking for, you may discover other opportunities along the way that may give you more clarity around your original intentions. For example, when I wrote my first book, it was initially intended to be a book about my father’s wisdom. When I shared it with a friend that knew someone that was in the publishing industry, it became something more significant. And now, 14 years later, I am a senior advisor to Fortune 500s and entrepreneurs the world over.
2. Adopt a farmer’s mentality
As the wise farmer once said, “You’ll never know which seed is going to grow without planting it first.” The wise entrepreneur knows this lesson well because oftentimes it takes too much time for the seed to flourish into an abundant harvest. What’s the point: keep planting seeds and allow your broadened observations to guide you. We must all adopt a farmer’s mentality if we are to discover our distinct place and position during this moment of abundant opportunities.
While many in the business world would refer to this mentality, along the lines of “creating multiple streams of income” (much like the farmer would harvest different types of crops), the key is to water each seed you plant with focus and intention. And if you do this right, you will not only multiply your opportunities, but you will find them to be interconnected in ways to strengthen the healthier whole. For example, now that I am working on my fourth book, I know exactly why I am writing it, the multiple audiences it will impact and how it will convert into multiple revenue streams. But it took me years to understand the formula that best supported my goals and objectives that are centered around creating future legacies. I’ve now learned how to plant the right seeds (and how not to); at the right time (that is not defined by me, but by others), to ensure my goals and objectives are met. Again, not all the seeds will grow, but if you’re planting them with the right focus and intention, the most significant seeds will.
3. Build momentum
How often have your heard this: “yeah, that’s a great idea you should do something with it.” And then what happens? Often, nothing – because people are not proficient in creating and sustaining any type of real momentum.
Creating momentum is the most critical, yet hardest thing for people to do. Why? Because most people embark on opportunities without knowing their inventory and access to resources. Not just money, but more so, relationships. We oftentimes think not having enough money is the problem. That is so far from the truth (this is why many great opportunities are lost by one person and seized by another).
Momentum is built through relationships that are willing to test drive your ideas. But don’t be mistaken, these relationships must be earned over time. For example, if you were to ask five people to support the opportunity you are trying to grow, can you say that you have supported them consistently in the past with their ideas? Have you earned the right to ask people for their support?
Building momentum can come in many forms. But your ability to have cultivated and earned strong relationships are vital to your ability to seize opportunities.
Opportunities come and go, but it is your responsibility to share them with others along the way. Nothing is a secret anymore. It’s about being prepared and doing something about it when the moment calls.
Now is the most abundant time to begin your journey.
Our 60s are one of the most important transition periods of our lives. With our kids out of the house, our social context is changing. Retirement is “in sight,” even if we don’t plan on quitting our jobs any time soon. Turning 60 is also the time when many of us start to question our place in the world. We may even look at our lives and ask, “Is this it? Surely I was meant to do something more!”
If you are like many older adults, you may be wondering how to reinvent yourself after 60. Perhaps you are tired of feeling out of shape and want to make a commitment to living a healthier life. Or maybe, after 40+ years working for someone else, you are ready to create a business of your own. Perhaps you simply want to find ways to give back to the world, now that your kids are off building their own lives.
Since starting Sixty and Me, I have loved listening to all of your stories of reinvention. We have people in our community who have gone back to school, changed careers, started sky-diving and dedicated their weekends to supporting their favorite charities.
I’d like to share a few of the lessons that I have learned from these amazing people who have found happiness and fulfillment in their lives.
Here are 4 absolutely essential steps to reinventing yourself after 60.
I love the scene in Alice in Wonderland, where Alice asks the Cheshire Cat which path she should take. The cat replies that it depends where she wants to go.
This sounds obvious, but, you would be amazed how many people miss this step on their reinvention journey. They are so eager to “get started” or “do something” that they set off randomly, chasing one whim after another.
As a starting point, I would encourage you to take out a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
What do I value most in this world?
What do I feel is missing most from my life?
When have I felt happiest? What was I doing and who was I with?
What am I good at? Which of these talents do I actually enjoy?
What do I think is wrong with the world?
How do I want my life to be 10 years from now?
What do I want to fix most in my life?
What do I like most about my life?
These questions are just a starting point. I’m sure that you can come up with others that relate to the kind of reinvention that you are looking for. It’s important to make these questions a part of a “living document.” Don’t write your answers once and assume that your job is done. Return to these questions every few months to see how your perspective has changed. You may be surprised!
When you decide to reinvent your life after 60, the tendency may be to focus on big achievements. If you want to get in shape, you may rush out to join a gym. If you want to fix your financial situation, you may decide to sell everything that isn’t “essential.” In my experience, very few people thrive with this kind of approach. Oh, sure, they feel great for a few days. Then, as the adrenaline wears off, they go back to their old habits.
Ironically, the best way to reinvent yourself after 60 is to start with small steps that you can apply consistently. One place to start is with your answers to the questions in the previous section.
Try to find one small action that you can take every day. For example, if your health is a concern, set aside 5 minutes every morning to stretch. Set a timer and resist the urge to exercise for longer. Then, every day, increase your morning exercise time by one minute. Within a month, you will be exercising for more than half an hour. More importantly, you will have established a habit that will be hard to break.
What small step are you going to take today to build your new life?
The road to reinvention can be a lonely one. As a result, it pays to have people on your side – people who understand what you are trying to achieve. If you have a spouse, share your dreams with them. Ask for their support and encouragement. You may be surprised by their reaction.
Beyond your family, there are so many people in the world who share your passions. You may not feel like joining a club or organization at first, but, don’t rule this out in the future. As you establish good habits and your confidence grows, look for ways to share your passions with others.
After decades looking after your family, it may feel strange to focus on yourself. You may even feel like you are the only person who thinks that your passions are important. This is certainly not the case.
Many people in the Sixty and Me community have told me that their road to reinvention actually started when they decided to declutter their lives. Prior to doing this, it was as if they had too many programs running in their heads. With so many people and things to take care of, there simply wasn’t enough mental energy left at the end of the day to sort out their own lives.
Take an inventory of the people, places and commitments in your life. Are there things that you never use that you could sell or give to a worthy cause? Are there people in your life that make you unhappy? Are there commitments that you took on when you were in a different context that continue to suck up your time and energy? Maybe it’s time to let these things go!
As with every other aspect of reinventing yourself after 60, it pays to take the decluttering process slowly. Don’t be in a hurry to change everything at once. If you remove one unnecessary item from your life every day, your life will be decluttered in no time.
I hope that you found these 4 essential steps useful and that they help you to get on the path to building the life that you deserve!
Are you planning on reinventing yourself? What do you want to change most in your life now that you are in your 60s or better? What advice would you give to the other members of our community when it comes to reinvention after 60? Please join the conversation and “like” and share this article to keep the discussion going!
According to a recent statistic, the average person changes jobs 10 to 15 times in their career. However, during the most established phase of a person’s career (between the age 40 to 48), workers held an average of 2.4 jobs. There can be many reasons why people look to change their job or reinvent themselves. The trick is to know the right time for making your move.
Do you feel stuck in a rut? Have you lost your mojo? Then, this article is for you.
Everyone finds the need to reinvent themselves at some point in time in their lives, either deliberately or inadvertently. In fact, professional reinvention is not only good to save anyone from stagnation, but it is also a good offensive strategy that allows an individual to take charge of their own life. It opens the individual’s mind to new possibilities.
Know When to Persist and When to Let Go
Reinventing oneself isn’t about creating an alternate personality. It’s about expanding on what you already have and recreating the person you already are. You can reinvent yourself by forging an identity that screams out worth and confidence – that attracts the recognition you deserve. Be the master of who you are or choose to become rather than have others define you.
To do that, you need to take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror and decide that you are not going to accept what others foist upon you or certain ‘nuisance’ beliefs about yourself…. Coincidentally, one of the hardest decisions in life is to know when to soldier on or when to let go and start fresh.
Stay Curious and Hungry
So, you’re pushing forty. So what? Its never too late to start something new. What matters most is not the past or the future, but what you create in the ‘now’. So redefine your priorities in life and clear away all the ‘mess on your desk’…Ask yourself: ‘What would the happiest, most fulfilled version of me look like? How do I achieve that? (See my post How To Turn Your Passions into Profit)
Looking back, regretting or longingly at the past will not do any good….nor will agonising over all the things not working right now. So, take down that rear-view mirror, find your purpose and move forward.
Accept the Challenge
We see reinvention everywhere in nature. From the tadpole that turns into a frog, to caterpillars that turn into butterflies. T. dohrnii, a unique species of jellyfish found in the Mediterranean, takes the concept of reinvention to a whole new level.
When faced with food scarcity or when threatened by a predator, the T. dohrnii sheds its bell shape body and tentacles and returns back to being just a blob of cells. It then latches onto the sea floor and starts to re-grow. What’s important to understand is that during post-metamorphosis, you may have to deal with a new habitat or lifestyle change.
You need to accept the challenge. It’s important to understand that if you are willing to venture outside your comfort zone, there’s no limit to what you can do, or the number of lives you can lead, just like the T. dohrnii.
Being Stagnant is just existing not flourishing
You either move forward or you move back, staying in between is as unnatural as moving backwards. As people, we need to constantly grow, change and reinvent ourselves. This can be achieved by learning from the many different people and situations that we experience, taking what we’ve learnt from those experiences and letting that mould us into the person who we want to be. The good news is that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
We’ve all heard the saying, “time and tide waits for no one”. Well, that’s true, but it doesn’t mean you should rush to make those drastic changes. Take your time to assess your situation. If you feel that life has become stagnant, it’s probably time to envision the ‘new you’. Change your inner dialogue, and most important of all, take on your reinvention process in a positive manner.
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Our 60s are one of the most important transition periods of our lives. With our kids out of the house, our social context is changing. Retirement is “in sight,” even if we don’t plan on quitting our jobs any time soon. Turning 60 is also the time when many of us start to question our place in the world. We may even look at our lives and ask, “Is this it? Surely I was meant to do something more!”
If you are like many older adults, you may be wondering how to reinvent yourself after 60. Perhaps you are tired of feeling out of shape and want to make a commitment to living a healthier life. Or maybe, after 40+ years working for someone else, you are ready to create a business of your own. Perhaps you simply want to find ways to give back to the world, now that your kids are off building their own lives.
Since starting Sixty and Me, I have loved listening to all of your stories of reinvention. We have people in our community who have gone back to school, changed careers, started sky-diving and dedicated their weekends to supporting their favorite charities.
I’d like to share a few of the lessons that I have learned from these amazing people who have found happiness and fulfillment in their lives.
Here are 4 absolutely essential steps to reinventing yourself after 60.
I love the scene in Alice in Wonderland, where Alice asks the Cheshire Cat which path she should take. The cat replies that it depends where she wants to go.
This sounds obvious, but, you would be amazed how many people miss this step on their reinvention journey. They are so eager to “get started” or “do something” that they set off randomly, chasing one whim after another.
As a starting point, I would encourage you to take out a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
What do I value most in this world?
What do I feel is missing most from my life?
When have I felt happiest? What was I doing and who was I with?
What am I good at? Which of these talents do I actually enjoy?
What do I think is wrong with the world?
How do I want my life to be 10 years from now?
What do I want to fix most in my life?
What do I like most about my life?
These questions are just a starting point. I’m sure that you can come up with others that relate to the kind of reinvention that you are looking for. It’s important to make these questions a part of a “living document.” Don’t write your answers once and assume that your job is done. Return to these questions every few months to see how your perspective has changed. You may be surprised!
When you decide to reinvent your life after 60, the tendency may be to focus on big achievements. If you want to get in shape, you may rush out to join a gym. If you want to fix your financial situation, you may decide to sell everything that isn’t “essential.” In my experience, very few people thrive with this kind of approach. Oh, sure, they feel great for a few days. Then, as the adrenaline wears off, they go back to their old habits.
Ironically, the best way to reinvent yourself after 60 is to start with small steps that you can apply consistently. One place to start is with your answers to the questions in the previous section.
Try to find one small action that you can take every day. For example, if your health is a concern, set aside 5 minutes every morning to stretch. Set a timer and resist the urge to exercise for longer. Then, every day, increase your morning exercise time by one minute. Within a month, you will be exercising for more than half an hour. More importantly, you will have established a habit that will be hard to break.
What small step are you going to take today to build your new life?
The road to reinvention can be a lonely one. As a result, it pays to have people on your side – people who understand what you are trying to achieve. If you have a spouse, share your dreams with them. Ask for their support and encouragement. You may be surprised by their reaction.
Beyond your family, there are so many people in the world who share your passions. You may not feel like joining a club or organization at first, but, don’t rule this out in the future. As you establish good habits and your confidence grows, look for ways to share your passions with others.
After decades looking after your family, it may feel strange to focus on yourself. You may even feel like you are the only person who thinks that your passions are important. This is certainly not the case.
Many people in the Sixty and Me community have told me that their road to reinvention actually started when they decided to declutter their lives. Prior to doing this, it was as if they had too many programs running in their heads. With so many people and things to take care of, there simply wasn’t enough mental energy left at the end of the day to sort out their own lives.
Take an inventory of the people, places and commitments in your life. Are there things that you never use that you could sell or give to a worthy cause? Are there people in your life that make you unhappy? Are there commitments that you took on when you were in a different context that continue to suck up your time and energy? Maybe it’s time to let these things go!
As with every other aspect of reinventing yourself after 60, it pays to take the decluttering process slowly. Don’t be in a hurry to change everything at once. If you remove one unnecessary item from your life every day, your life will be decluttered in no time.
I hope that you found these 4 essential steps useful and that they help you to get on the path to building the life that you deserve!
Are you planning on reinventing yourself? What do you want to change most in your life now that you are in your 60s or better? What advice would you give to the other members of our community when it comes to reinvention after 60? Please join the conversation and “like” and share this article to keep the discussion going!
“You’re never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.”
Change means reinvention. Each time a major shift happens in our lives—leaving a job or a relationship, moving, losing a loved one—we have to choose who we want to become or risk never reaching our full potential.
I’ve reinvented myself several times in my life. Most adults have.
But what I always forget is that we have to choose reinvention. Each time I’ve done it, I’ve forged my new path deliberately and with foresight.
When I’ve waited for my future to find me, I’ve waited in vain, lost in confusion and sadness, or I’ve gotten tangled up in a situation I didn’t want.
One morning, after struggling for months with grief and loss, I woke up and realized that I was having so much trouble moving forward partly because I had no idea what it was that I wanted to move toward. I was thinking about my past, but not what I wanted for my future.
That morning, I woke with a vision: a crowd of people from the life I needed to leave behind with the sun rising opposite them and me standing between the two, the sun beating down on my face.
In the vision, I decided, finally, to turn from the group and walk toward the sun, my new life.
That vision told me what I needed to hear—that I had to take control of my future instead of letting my pain choose for me.
These are steps I’ve identified to reinvent yourself:
1. Create a vision for your future.
Sit quietly, close your eyes, and imagine the people, places, or situations that you need to leave behind. Now, imagine the future that you want, whether it’s simply a feeling, a group of people, or a situation such as a wonderful new job.
Imagine how it will feel to be in that new place. Picture the sun coming up behind your future, the warm glow of the light on your face.
Stand for a moment and silently voice your appreciation for everything that came before. Once you’ve thanked the past, turn toward the sun, and with compassion and gratitude, imagine yourself walking away from the past and into the future.
2. Write about your reinvention.
Imagine a scene from it or write about how you’d like it to play out. Where are you living? What do you do in the mornings, afternoon, and evenings? Who are your friends? What do you spend your days doing?
Continue writing for as long as this exercise feels invigorating and exciting. Write scenes, dialogues, lists, and plans. Make the future come alive. Write about how it will feel to be there. Keep your writing somewhere where you will look at it occasionally. Feel free to add to it.
3. Surround yourself with visual reminders of the life you’d like to create.
If it’s a new job in a particular field, put objects or images from that field someplace where you’ll see them every day. If it’s a home, find a picture of a house that you love and put it near your front door. It can be anything that reminds you of what you’re moving toward.
4. Now that you have a vision of your future, break it up into workable tasks.
What do you need to do, every day, to create that vision? Look for work? Meet new people? Search for a place to live in your chosen town? Make it specific. Make a list of everything you need to do and a schedule for when you’ll do it. Then do it and commit to keep doing it, one day at a time.
5. Every day, go back to that vision of you walking toward your future.
Every morning or evening, close your eyes and see yourself walking into the rising sun, toward your dreams, and reconnect with why you’re moving toward this new possibility.
Reinvention is neither easy nor always smooth. Often, we encounter resistance. We don’t want to let go, even of things that cause us pain or that are obviously already out of our grasp. We often struggle with limiting beliefs or stories about ourselves that hold us back from trying new things.
But there is one way to keep your compass pointed to this new life, even in the midst of any resistance or struggles you may encounter on your path.
Each time you find yourself slipping into old habits—isolating yourself, making excuses not to look for work, procrastinating on a task that might help you advance in your career—don’t bother wondering why you’re doing it or beating yourself up.
Just ask yourself this: “What can I do in this moment to keep moving forward?”
Then, no matter what you feel in the moment—lonely, self-critical, tired, lazy, or disappointed—do something to maintain momentum, even if it’s one small thing. There’s an old adage that says that true courage isn’t about not feeling fear; it’s about feeling fear and acting anyway.
Choose courage instead of letting your fear choose your future for you.
About Melissa Kirk
Melissa Kirk is an editor, writer, and blogger living in the SF bay area and attempting to go with the flow and roll with the punches as much as possible. She writes for Psychology Today and also has a personal blog.
