People with positive attitudes trust their abilities, are willing to take risks and believe in themselves. They look forward rather than backward, and they relish the future with a spirit of adventure. They choose the right behaviour and the right thoughts to get the right consequences. They create the retirement they want!

Pairing a well-formulated retirement vision with a positive attitude puts you well on your way to creating a rewarding retirement lifestyle. You are on the right track to actively molding your future.

Here are eleven actions to help ensure your success:

1. Seek and find the new role called retirement. Speak with people who are successful in their retirement. Find a mentor. Read articles and books about retirement. Contact retirement agencies such as the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) or the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

2. Maintain your personal independence. Continue to handle your financial affairs and make decisions that affect you for as long as possible. Remember, it is important to stay in control.

3. Make an effort to maintain your best possible state of health and resist complaining about your ailments. Continue to take a personal pride in your appearance.

4. Explore your options and interests. Consider your opinions and choose whether you want to continue with your profession or trade, volunteer, or develop creative endeavours. Keep your mind and body active and spirits high.

5. Take action to make a positive contribution to the lives of others. Ask yourself, “What will my legacy be when I die?” “How will I be remembered?” “Did I make a positive impact on the lives of others?”

6. Create and maintain good relationships with others. Sustain your social circle and let people know they are important to you. Keep reaching out to meet new people and make new friends.

7. Continue to learn. Read, return to school, take self-improvement and development courses. Keep developing your skills and abilities.

8. Remain a positive force within your community for as long as possible. Speak up, take action when necessary and become a matriarch or patriarch within your family circle.

9. Maintain and build your sense of humour. Laugh and enjoy where you are in life, see yourself in perspective, and see the positive side of things.

10. Handle setbacks with grace and strength. When illness, loss of a spouse or partner, or problems with children arise, talk to others and get assistance to help you cope. Develop an action plan aimed at getting through the setbacks as quickly as possible.

11. Have a personal dignity in all that you do. Keep increasing your vitality and interest in life.

This is the time to review your retirement vision. Keeping in mind the information presented from reading and completed exercises, what refinements are needed to accomplish your retirement plans and achieve your retirement goals?