Mary Jo Kreitzer Director, Center for Spirituality and Healing.

Mary Jo Kreitzer

Director, Center for Spirituality and Healing

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Purpose is a powerful driver of our lives that is different from a job or career.

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If you could live your life over, what would you do differently? People said that they would:

- be more reflective.- be more courageous.- be clear earlier about purpose.

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What’s happening now?

• First of 77 million baby boomers turned 60.

• This “tidal wave” has transformed every aspect of society from the time they were babies.

• 60 is the new 40. Average US lifespan has grown by 30 years.

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What’s happening now?

• Boomers have very different ideas about retirement.

• 4/5 people over 50 say that they will work in retirement.

• High interest in civic engagement, giving back, improving the quality of life in their communities.

• “Encore” careers.

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Evidence of new ideas, expectations and opportunities for the baby boomer generation.

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Mature Market Institute“Age Branding”

• Anti-Aging

• Age-Adaptive

• Age-Affirmative

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The new story is about re-firement, not retirement.

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Leap of Faith

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Law of Attraction

• Energy flows where attention goes.

• What are you paying attention to?

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Claiming your place at the Fire

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Flames of Vital Aging “Tasks of Elderhood” • Growing

• Loving

• Learning

• Giving

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Honey Guide Story

• What we need in life is available to us if only we know how to look for it.

• Getting what really matters in life depends above all on giving it back.

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Who are the elders in your life who guide and inspire you?

What characteristics do they embody?

Who do you want to be like and why?

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Identity: The Vision Flame

Task: Growing

• Commit to re-inventing ourselves.

• Identify our gifts.

• Ask: who am I and where do I grow from here?

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Community: The Heart Flame

Task: Loving

• Identify new friends.

• Diversify relationships.

• Ask: Who is my tribe? Where is my place?

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Passion: The Creative Flame

Task: Learning

• Turn inward and heed our calling.

• Commit to exploring our creativity.

• Identify new dreams to pursue.

• Ask: If not now, when?

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Purpose: The Soul’s Flame

Task: Giving

• Commit to giving back.

• What is my purpose?

• What am I called to do?

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If there was a museum of outdated beliefs about aging, what would top the list?

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Contrasting Generational Views30’s vs. over the age of 50• Older adults need …

• One of the greatest fears of older adults is …

• Older adults tend to resent …

• One of the greatest pleasures of older adults is …

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Fighting Ageism is the next big social battle.

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The Good Life

• Living in the place you belong, with the people you love, doing the right work, on purpose.

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Calling Cards

• A journey of discovery that begins with recognizing your special gifts – those with which you are naturally endowed.

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Formula

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Are you using your gifts on things that you care about, that fit with your values, and in an environment that supports you?

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Calling Cards – sort into 3 piles

• Those that fit me.

• Those that sort of fit me.

• Those that don’t fit me.

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Calling Cards

• Select the top 5

• If you were forced to pick just one, what would it be?

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My Calling Card

• In your own words, what is your single strongest preference?

• Acorn – what is embedded inside?

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Work Environments

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Investigative Environment

• Attracts people who enjoy researching and analyzing things in depth. Like to produce results more than implement them. Love to problem-solve.

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Artistic Environment

• Attracts people who enjoy creating, producing original work, prefer unstructured environments.

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Social Environment

• Attracts people who enjoy helping others. Prefer to generate solutions for people and social problems. Prefer participative environments.

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Enterprising Environments

• Attract people who like to focus on results and the bottom line. Prefer competitive environments.

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Conventional Environments

• Attracts people who are implementers – enjoy carrying out plans and details. Like clearly defined tasks and orderly and efficient environments.

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Realistic Environments

• Attracts people who are hands-on. Prefer to produce useful things. Like structured environments.

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The Purpose Inventory

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Creating a Sounding Board“Criteria for Membership”

• They are interested and interesting.

• They listen deeply.

• They ask great questions.

• They practice courageous conversations – are honest with you and will tell you the truth.

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Sounding Board

• Committed Listeners – people who will listen without judging.

• Catalysts – people who inspire you or encourage you to take risks.

• Elder Heroes – people who inspire you but their own lives.

• Thinking Partners – people with whom you can explore ideas.

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Create your Own Fireside Chat

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What is your Commitment – your first next steps?