as you near retirement you’ve set the stage to savor what’s next you’ve accumulated enough savings to last for decades you can’t wait to pursue hobbies and other interests and you have a social support network—family and friends—to enrich your life but here’s the rub you can do everything possible to pave the way for a smooth retirement and still hit potholes “you’re getting ready to face one of the most challenging transitions in your life” said barbara pagano author of “the 60something crisis” “just because you’ve had past success doesn’t mean you’re good to go into retirement” for starters there’s the “will my money last” issue what seems like a substantial nest egg today may erode by 2060 “you’re the first generation to have a 30year bonus to live” pagano said advances in healthcare are extending longevity even further who knows how your portfolio will survive when you’re 95—or 105 setting aside the risk of outlasting your savings there are more pressing shortterm factors that can undermine retirement consider your zest for life and what will get you out of bed in the morning pagano 77 admits she initially failed at retirement at 65 she moved on from her career as an entrepreneur with a determination to maximize her next life stage “i asked myself ‘what next’ but i couldn’t answer” she said “so other people answered for me” she was told to volunteer to make the world a better place but she couldn’t find the right fit she tried exercises such as identifying her purpose—writing her thoughts about what matters most to her—but that didn’t work after about two years she hit her stride she took extended trips to immerse herself in different cultures pursued passion projects and “owned my next 30 years” she says “we don’t regret what we tried and failed to do” she said “we regret the things we did not do” passivity can cause retirement to go awry it’s not just the idleness that poses a threat the temptation to sit on the couch—to prioritize what’s easy and comfortable rather than what’s fulfilling or meaningful—can dampen our desires “underestimating your capabilities and potential in your retirement years is one of the biggest mistakes i see people make” pagano said she suggests rating your overall satisfaction on a 1to10 scale then ask yourself “what would make me happier” “most retirees would rate it a 6 or 7” she said “so the next question is ‘what would get you to a 9 or 10’ trying to plug that gap is the clue to living your potential” your personality type affects how you handle the early years of retirement if you’re accustomed to a highintensity career the shift to lowintensity living can prove jarring “if you have a supercharged personality there might not be enough stimulation in your immediate environment compared to what you were used to before you retired” said robert delamontagne phd author of “the retiring mind” “it lacks the energy profile you once had so you’ve got to find a way to step it down and reach equilibrium” to recalibrate your energy level as a retiree adopt a different mindset embrace patience if you’re stuck in traffic use a calming mantra to tame your irritation if your doctor keeps you waiting 20 minutes enjoy an engrossing book or magazine article rather than stew in anger another psychological barrier to a rewarding retirement is managing an oversize ego retirement—or just getting old—is humbling if you’ve spent your working life deriving selfworth from professional prestige prepare to rethink your selfassessment “you have to come to grips with the role of ego” said delamontagne 79 “how will you get ego gratification in retirement” examples include volunteering or engaging in regular acts of service embracing spirituality or spending time amid the grandeur of nature he says the key is to live in a different frequency where you release your ego and exude warmth and gratitude even then there are no guarantees life events—the things you can’t control—can ruin retirement “from loss of a loved one to a financial or health challenge to moving to a new place and regretting it bad stuff can happen” delamontagne warned “being flexible and going with the flow gives you the power” to bend not break when adversity strikes