Have you ever down shifted?

Have you ever thought that retirement is the same as driving a manual car? When driving on a highway you may be cruising along and decide you want to pass someone.

If you step on the gas the car may be sluggish and accelerate slowly, but if you downshift from fifth to fourth and step on the gas you find that the car will accelerate faster, and then when you shift back to fifth you can really move.

When you retire you may find that you want to down shift different aspects of your life, recalibrate, to prepare for the new terrain you will be encountering. With manual transmission shifting the gears control speed and power.

Downshifting increases the engines RPM’s, preparing for acceleration. With Retirement you are approaching a major life change, usually from a structured environment to a self-directed environment.

It will also request you to reorientation of your finances, purpose and daily tasks. What type of downshifting does this require? Financially reassessing spending habits and lifestyle.

Possibly downsizing homes or simplifying expenses. It is like easing off on the gas before shifting. A mental and emotional reset is needed. Letting go of your career identity and finding new direction just as a driver downshift before making a turn or climbing.

These are also the physical and lifestyle adjustments. You will have the opportunity to focus on health and wellness, as you adapt to a new rhythm of life. Think of this as a different gear.

You have successfully downshifted, now it is time to re-accelerate, build new momentum. This can be Traveling, hobbies, volunteering, exploring a new career, consulting, part-time work or passion projects.

This is like shifting into a higher gear after the reset. It also gives you the opportunity to engage in new communities and relationships. You are now able to operate on your schedule not on other people’s schedules.

Will life be smooth driving? Not necessarily, you will still hit hills, curves, traffic and stops. A good driver uses all gears and the clutch which means they sometimes slowdown or coast, sometimes accelerate.

The goal is not just speed, but to control with confidence and flow. Retirement has many things in common with driving a manual car. It’s not going backward but being strategic in preparation for forward motion.

Embracing the changes, the shift with intentionally, and having a destination that you are aiming for. It’s a mindset of intention and legacy. Live boldly, live in the present and make each chapter count. Time is both mine and your most precious resource. I am not wealthy but I am thriving, living and living with purpose. Come and join me living boldly.

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