Retirement is a time of great change. The adoption of a new life style. being more self-reliant, making decisions on health and wellbeing, and taking on new and different responsibilities. With such changes comes a chance for fear to grow.

Fears such as:

” Will I lose my physical or mental health as I age?”

“Will I have sufficient monies to permit me to accomplish my retirement plans?”

“Will disputes or mood swings affect my relationship with my spouse and friends?”

“As a retiree, will I get the recognition I feel I deserve?”

To help you overcome your fears about retirement, here are some actions you can take when needed:

• Stay positive. Keep reminding yourself how fortunate you are to have your health, loving family and friends.
• Acknowledge your strengths and ability to change. Think about the changes you have already managed successfully including getting an education, holding a job, and raising a family.
• Take responsibility for your mistakes. Don’t make excuses. Remind yourself that if you did not make mistakes, you would never have learned how to improve.
• Share your fears with people you love and respect. By talking to others about what bothers you, you receive different perspectives and input that may help you better understand your fear.
• Collaborate on important issues. For instance, if you have a fear of running out of money, talk to your financial advisor as to the validity of your fear and if need be, work together to restructure your financial portfolio.
• Focus on your retirement plan. Keep asking yourself “How do I move forward to accomplish what I believe is important?”

Remember, retirement is a time of change that will continue in one form or another, for the rest of your life. It’s part of life and you need to deal with it. It’s also one of the most exciting times; a time for exploration, shift in focus and constant demand for new knowledge and skills. This includes finding ways to react constructively to your fears. Don’t let yourself grow numb to possibilities but rather take responsibility for yourself and your situation and address your fears.