Title: Why Are You Really Here? Finding Meaning That Carries You Forward
By Dave Smith, The Ultimate Retirement Coach
💡 One Idea: Meaning Is What Keeps You Going
When Viktor Frankl walked out of Auschwitz, he didn’t just survive one of history’s darkest horrors—he walked out with a truth that would transform millions of lives.
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
Frankl taught us something radical:
We’re not chasing comfort.
We’re not chasing control.
We are chasing meaning.
In his groundbreaking book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Frankl introduced logotherapy—the idea that our deepest drive is to find purpose, not pleasure or power. This idea redefines how we think about success, happiness, and even suffering.
It’s not how much we’re doing that burns us out.
It’s how little of it actually matters.
Meaning, Frankl said, can be found in:
What you create (your contributions)
Who you love (your relationships)
How you grow through suffering (your character)
Even when everything else is taken from you, one thing remains:
Your ability to choose your attitude.
In retirement—when roles, routines, and identities shift—that truth is more important than ever.
You don’t need everything to have meaning.
You just need something that makes getting up in the morning worth it.
❓ One Question for You:
What gives your life meaning—right now?
(Not what used to. Not what you think should. But what currently does.)
📝 One Exercise for the Week: Clarify Your Why
This week, spend time discovering (or rediscovering) your personal why.
Use the worksheet below to explore where meaning is showing up in your life—or where it’s been missing.
🗂️ Your “Meaning Finder” Worksheet
1. What You Create
List 3 things you’ve created, built, or contributed to that gave you a deep sense of fulfillment.
2. Who You Love
Write down 3 relationships that give your life meaning. Then, note why they matter so much.
3. How You’ve Grown Through Struggle
Think of a hard season you’ve faced. What did you learn or gain from it?
Situation: ____________________________________________________
What I gained: _______________________________________________
4. What Gives You a Reason to Get Up Today?
Describe one thing that gives your life meaning right now.
5. What’s One Way You’ll Act on That Meaning This Week?
Make it practical. Make it small. Make it matter.
Remember:
Meaning isn’t something you stumble upon.
It’s something you pay attention to.
Choose it. Build it. Live it.
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I’d love to hear what you discover.
What gives your life meaning—right now?
👉 Reply or comment. Let’s build a life that matters—together.
– Dave Smith
The Ultimate Retirement Coach