التقاعد فرصة للنمو الذاتي أم أزمة هوية ؟

Retirement is a critical turning point in a person's life, where they transition from a structured work environment with its constraints and routines to an open space that allows them to rediscover themselves or seek what occupies their future..

This stage is not just a change in daily routine, but a deep psychological test and a significant challenge.. It reveals the individual's temperament and their ability to adapt to the changes brought about by retirement; for retirement, with its freedom and time availability, places a person face to face with themselves, where their psychological depths and internal balance come to the forefront.

In this phase, their true character is manifested, and the values they have built over the years are revealed.. Some find in retirement a refuge for psychological comfort, turning to remembrance and worship; where their soul finds tranquility and enhances their sense of purpose and inner satisfaction. These individuals often possess a psychological balance that allows them to fill the void left by work with activities that reflect their deep values.

There are those who invest this phase in unleashing their creative and intellectual energies, starting a private project, whether economic or an extension of their specialization before retirement.. And there are those who immerse themselves in hobbies they have long postponed due to their preoccupation with work and the lack of sufficient time to practice them.. This group possesses psychological flexibility that enables them to turn retirement into an opportunity for self-growth, finding in future freedom a breath of fresh air to realize themselves and regain their inner passion, sharing with the community in ways that align with their previous personal investments, thus becoming a valuable and high reference for everyone.

But unfortunately.. there is another group for whom retirement reveals a clear psychological fragility that had been hidden behind their previous busyness.. This group has not been able to build a cohesive internal identity or social stability throughout their years, finding themselves unable to adapt to the absence of the organizational structure that work provided them; for them, retirement is not an opportunity for liberation but an existential crisis that exacerbates their feelings of emptiness, anxiety, and fear.. Instead of positively investing this phase, they descend into aggressive or destructive behaviors, such as verbally or physically harming others or infringing upon the rights of others due to the accumulation of negativity in their minds. These behaviors may stem from an internal sense of frustration or a loss of identity that was tied to work, or even from an unstable family upbringing, pushing them to seek false compensation through harming others or exerting control over them.

These behaviors demonstrate the individual's ability to achieve self-balance and adapt to life changes, as individuals with high self-awareness and the ability to manage their emotions often see retirement as a phase for renewal and growth. In contrast, those who suffer from weak self-identity or a lack of coping skills may perceive retirement as a threat that triggers their negative psychological defenses, such as aggression or revenge. This difference highlights the importance of psychological preparation for retirement by enhancing self-awareness, developing coping skills, and fostering social skills and personal relationships while building an identity that does not solely depend on work or position.

Finally.. retirement is considered one of the major life transformations that evoke diverse psychological responses based on the individual's personality and previous experiences from upbringing to education and finally to their work.

According to psychological theories such as Erik Erikson's theory of psychological development.. the retirement phase falls within the stage of (maturity), where the individual faces the challenge of achieving (self-fulfillment) versus (despair).

Here, the importance of psychological interventions such as counseling or retirement preparation programs through associations or institutions affiliated with their workplaces emerges, which can help individuals adapt to this phase and avoid slipping into destructive behaviors.