Expect the Unexpected in Retirement

In life, nothing is ever smooth sailing. Sometimes things beyond our control happen, and suddenly we’re left battling dramatic situations that find us entirely off guard. Although we recognize that occasionally things might not go as planned, why is it that we never plan for the unexpected in retirement? We know that when the unexpected happens, it usually means a major delay, greater expense, or a slight change in plans. The sad reality is that most people assume with a little planning, retirement is a time of little to no complications. When in truth, even the most precise plans can face unexpected hurdles. For example, the people who had plans to retire in 2020 never expected the pandemic to play a significant role in how they retire; but COVID happened, and there was certainly nothing they could do apart from responding to it the best way possible. 

Reacting to Things Outside Your Control 

As earlier mentioned, certain events will occur during your retirement that may dramatically affect your retirement plans. Whether these events are controllable or not, how you react to them is a crucial determinant of how you come out the other side. Remember, in extreme cases, a momentary reaction can shape the next 20 or 30 years of our life. So, how you react can be detrimental or life-saving depending on how you prepare and respond to these situations. That said, here are several things, both reactive and preventive, you could do when dealing with things outside your control:

• Savor in the moments and be grateful for what you have right now.
• Interact with people who have experienced challenging moments
• Step back and assess the situation before acting on the situation
• Learn some basic coping skills
• Contemplate, prepare, and reflect on the things that might go wrong

Links and Resources

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Listen now to learn How To Be Prepared For The Unexpected.