Some people call this chapter “the autumn of life.” But I don’t use that phrase—and
here’s why:
Autumn implies that all that’s left is decline, harvest, and fading light. But many people
entering their next season after leaving full-time work (whether by choice or
circumstance) experience an inner spring—a time of renewal, rethinking, and
rediscovery. And later, a summer—a season of energy, generosity, even joy.
This is not the beginning of the end. It’s the beginning of something new.
This is something many people feel after leaving behind a role they’ve held for years or
decades. When so much of your identity has been tied to what you do—your title, your
responsibilities, your usefulness—it can be disorienting to suddenly be without those markers. It’s not that you don’t exist anymore; it’s that you’re meeting yourself again,
without the external frame. And that takes time.
List three things about yourself that have nothing to do with your job title.
Now ask: What would it look like to build a life where these things matter more?
After years of following routines, meeting expectations, and often prioritizing others, it’s
completely normal to lose touch with your own desires. You may be so accustomed to
focusing on goals or productivity that simply asking yourself what YOU want feels unfamiliar. But that voice is still there—it’s just been quieted for a long time.
Try this:
Write freely for 5 minutes in response to: “If I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, what would I try or explore this year?”
You may have everything you were told to want—freedom, time, security—and yet feel
a surprising sense of dissatisfaction. This tension often arises when what you truly need
is meaning or connection, not just rest. Gratitude doesn’t mean settling. You can
appreciate what you have and still long for more expression, engagement, or purpose.
You’ve heard you interrupt too often, or that your tone in emails can feel cold. Now what? Make a plan. Pick one thing to shift. Small adjustments compound. Growth doesn’t come from knowing—it comes from doing.
Draw two columns. In one, write what you’re grateful for. In the other, write what still feels unfinished or unexpressed.
Now circle one thing from column two. What’s one small step you could take this week
to honor it?
Set aside 20 quiet minutes. Use a notebook or print this guide. Ask yourself:
You don’t need to have all the answers today. You just need to start asking the right
questions.
