Joseph CascianiGeropsychologist, Consultant, Public Speaking, Freelance · Podcast Host of the Living to 100 Club | Clinical Strategies for Senior Residential Settings & Lifestyle Directors | Geropsychologist | Keynote Speaker

A Curriculum that Brings Purpose and Meaning to Post-retirement with Caroline and Campbell

7 Aug 2024 · 1 min

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In this segment of a panel discussion on creating a purpose‑driven curriculum for post‑retirement life, the speaker explains why the program begins with the CliftonStrengths assessment. The assessment captures each participant’s personal wiring, allowing the curriculum to be tailored to the wide variety of retirement experiences. The speaker highlights that retirement pathways differ dramatically based on professional background, family configuration, geographic location, community ties, and personal interests. A major obstacle identified is the "white space"—the paradox of choice described by Barry Schwartz—where retirees feel overwhelmed by the abundance of possible activities and directions, leading to indecision. By grounding the curriculum in individual strengths and acknowledging these variables, the program aims to help retirees navigate the white space and find meaningful engagement.

Chapters

I think one of the things I think that's really important to note, and it's why we start our program with something called CliftonStrengths, which is very much an individual-based assessment on people's personal wiring, is that everybody's journey is quite different in retirement. There are lots of variables in people as they age, all the way from the professional experience they've had to their family configuration, to where they're living, to what communities and interests they might face. And to Campbell's point, one of the biggest challenges is the white space. That is the paradox of choice, if you're familiar with Barry Schwartz's work, that if you ever walk down the aisle and try to pick a jelly, you might walk away going, I have just no idea what jelly I should pick now. That's the same thing about life when you have so many opportunities and you've had so much experience.