There comes a point in later life when we say something like: I can’t live like this anymore.
We’ve tried to fit in for too long.
We’ve adapted to workplace cultures.
We’ve hidden our true selves to meet expectations.
But when we finally listen to that quiet voice, the one that says enough, it’s not a crisis. It’s clarity.
And that’s where the conversation about thriving begins.
I’ve spent over ten years exploring how we navigate the later chapters of life: through research, coaching, and personal transition. The word “thriving” has surfaced again and again.
But not in the way most people use it.
Thriving isn’t about doing more. It’s not about hustle, optimisation, or some performative version of vitality.
It’s about alignment.
About rhythm.
About becoming more yourself.
It’s the inner shift that happens when you stop asking, “What should I be doing?”
And start asking, “What do I need in order to truly live?”
I often use a plant analogy.
Some plants need sun. Others flourish in shade. A cactus won’t thrive in a rainforest.
And yet, so many of us have spent decades trying to grow in the wrong conditions:
Jobs that didn’t fit.
Cultures that didn’t see us.
Expectations that didn’t match who we truly are.
Later life is a chance to stop twisting yourself to fit. To finally plant yourself in the soil that suits you.
That’s the work of ThriveSpan, my model for meaningful later life.
Not a formula, but a landscape.
Three paths:
Self & Wellbeing
Connection & Contribution
Exploration & Fulfilment
And nine dimensions to help you ask, What do I need now?
Not what you needed at 35.
Not what others expect.
But what allows you to thrive, now.
This is also the deeper message behind my book, Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing.
I wrote it because I couldn’t find anything that addressed retirement with both evidence and empathy.
So much of the conversation is still financial, or anecdotal.
My research was the first to explore the personality and psychological factors that shape retirement adjustment.
It matters, because how we feel about later life changes how we live it.
If you haven’t read the book yet, or if it’s been a while, I’d love you to return to it. It’s as relevant as ever.
📽 I’ve shared a short video on thriving in later life in the comments below.
(LinkedIn doesn’t like external links in newsletters, so this keeps it visible.)
🧠And if you’re at a point where something inside you says,
“I want more than this”
You’re not lost. You’re starting to thrive.
Whatever you call later life, you deserve to thrive.
