Retire With Purpose - The Retirement Podcast

509: Freedom After 50: 7 Practices to Help You Stop Hiding and Start Growing

20 snips

Jul 11, 2025

Les McDaniel, a certified retirement coach, joins Casey Weade to explore personal growth beyond finances as we age. The conversation centers on embracing one’s 'shadow self'—the hidden aspects we often ignore. They discuss how unresolved emotional patterns affect our health and joy, and the importance of self-reflection in retirement. By confronting insecurities and aligning values with actions, listeners can foster deeper connections and find true peace in their second act. Tune in for transformative insights into personal fulfillment.

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INSIGHT

Retirement Reveals Your Shadow Self

Retirement removes distractions, forcing you to face your shadow self honestly. - Healing inner wounds is essential for peace and moving forward without regret.

ADVICE

Notice When Shadow Speaks

Notice moments when you overreact, feel shame, or judge others today. - Instead of pushing feelings away, ask what part in you needed protection then.

ADVICE

Inventory Praised Roles

Inventory roles you've been praised for and identify what you hide to maintain them. - Owning imperfections frees you to connect more genuinely with others.

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What if your greatest growth in retirement didn’t come from doing more—but from finally sitting with who you are? Throughout this discussion, we explore the concept of the “shadow self”—the parts of yourself that you may avoid, hide, or ignore—and how bringing light to these areas can lead to true peace and deeper connection in the second half of life.

In this episode, we discuss:

How unresolved emotional patterns can impact health, relationships, and joy
Why it’s important to take inventory of the roles you’ve been praised for
How to leverage retirement as a mirror and own where you’re out of alignment

Today's article is from our very own blog post which you can find here. Listen in as Founder and CEO of Howard Bailey Financial, Casey Weade is joined by Les McDaniel to explore how embracing your “shadow self” can lead to deeper peace and fulfillment in retirement.

Show Notes: HowardBailey.com/509

📧 WEEKEND READING FOR RETIREES: Receive CFP® insight on 4 hand-picked financial articles delivered straight to your Inbox each Friday: https://bit.ly/3OEdGgu

📅SCHEDULE YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL REVIEW: Book a 15-minute call with Howard Bailey Financial to see how the topics discussed here apply to your individual situation: https://bit.ly/3T6oNDB

ABOUT HOWARD BAILEY FINANCIAL: Our mission is to help others gain clarity in purpose and elevate meaning in their lives through personal and practical financial strategies. Our Retire With Purpose™ Framework starts with establishing your unique financial philosophy — the true meaning and purpose for your money in retirement. Through continued education, one-on-one meetings, and a comprehensive team planning approach, we have helped retirees across the country secure their financial futures. And while we can't work with everyone, our goal is to provide value to everyone we meet. Our team of advisors and support specialists strive to deliver the very best experience in pre-retirement and retirement planning. Learn more about our process here: https://howardbailey.com/our-process