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Meaning Map - Causes
Causes
Mapping your current reality helps you create the meaning needed to move forward in your retirement journey.
Understanding Your Causes
In this session, we’ll start using the Meaning Map — a tool that helps you see what’s shaping your experience of retirement. The Meaning Map helps you turn reflection into insight by exploring key areas of your life.
”Mapping your current reality helps you create the meaning needed to move forward in your retirement journey.”
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The Meaning Map
Understanding Your Causes
Understand where you are now — Identify the areas of life that currently give meaning and those that may feel uncertain
Recognise what shapes your experience — Explore the emotional messages behind your thoughts, expectations, and reactions.
See where change could make a difference — Discover small shifts that could help you move forward with confidence.
Mapping your current reality helps you create the meaning needed to move forward in your retirement journey.
John’s Meaning Map Case Study - Causes
John’s causes score assessment. A score of 7+ indicates poor shape, 5-6 indicates moderately poor shape, and 4 or below indicates good shape.
Yourself
Identity, role and status; self-esteem and self-worth
While I’m not in crisis – hence my score of 5 – I know it is being protected by other areas, which isn’t sustainable long term. I do need to do some work in this area as my career and identity were deeply connected.
Home and Family Life
Home environment, family relationships and stability
I am very lucky. No issues here. Probably the main reason my identity area isn’t in worse shape.
Relationships
Personal and professional relationships, friends, colleagues
Again, this is a good area for me. Plenty of contact with former colleagues who are rapidly becoming friends, plus existing friends.
Work and Career
Professional development, retirement transition, career direction
This is the most challenging area. I don’t consider myself to be ‘old’ at the age of 62, and always assumed work would be a part of retirement but at this time, I am struggling to know what I want to do.
Health and Wellbeing
Physical health, mental wellness, fitness
I have always looked after myself and continue to feel in good shape.
Financial
Financial security, retirement income, budgeting
We (my wife and I) are cutting our cloth accordingly, but I have no worries financially. I don’t need to work, but any additional income will be helpful.
Lifestyle
Mix of daily activities, commitments and routines
For now, I like the mix of activities and commitments I/we have.
Social
Social connection, community engagement, leisure group contact
No particular concerns here.
Cultural
New concepts, values, exploration of arts/learning/philosophy
This is a new area and concept for me. I have scored it a 5 pending further exploration.
Environment
Surroundings, home locality, town and countryside contact
Happy with where I live and spend my time.
Your Interactive Meaning Map - Causes
Choose a number from 0 to 10 showing how you currently feel about each area (0 = great shape, 10 = very poor shape). Then select whether it feels positive, neutral, or negative, and write brief notes explaining why.
Yourself
Identity, role and status; self-esteem and self-worth
Home and Family Life
Home environment, family relationships and stability
Relationships
Personal and professional relationships, friends, colleagues
Work and Career
Professional development, retirement transition, career direction
Health and Wellbeing
Physical health, mental wellness, fitness
Financial
Financial security, retirement income, budgeting
Lifestyle
Mix of daily activities, commitments and routines
Social
Social connection, community engagement, leisure group contact
Cultural
New concepts, values, exploration of arts/learning/philosophy
Environment
Surroundings, home locality, town and countryside contact
Causes
Your scores are messages from your Emotional Self.
What Did You Discover
Now that you’ve completed your Meaning Map for causes, take some time to think about the scores you gave and what they might be telling you regarding your retirement.
Each score represents information from your Emotional Self — a message showing where you’re thriving, where you’re stable, and where you may need to pay closer attention.
”You’ve now completed your meaning map for causes. Reflect on your results using the questions on the next few slides.”
mapPause for a moment and reflect on what your scores might be telling you. Reflect on your results using the questions on the next few slides.
Examine the Why
Look deeper into the reasons behind your scores.
What’s influencing your scores? Explore personal, relational, or environmental factors that might explain the scores you gave.
What emotions arise? Identify the emotions that surface, and consider what they might be trying to tell you.
What roles do stories and beliefs play? Consider the stories, habits, or assumptions shaping the way you see these areas.
Pause for a moment and reflect on what your scores might be telling you. Reflect on your results using the questions on the next few slides.
Explore Your Range of Scores
Look at the pattern of your scores and try to understand what they might be telling you.
Areas that may need attention Do you have any 7+ scores – areas that may be causing concern for your Emotional Self?
Areas that may need attention Do you have any 7+ scores – areas that may be causing concern for your Emotional Self?
Areas that may need attention Do you have any 7+ scores – areas that may be causing concern for your Emotional Self?
Pause for a moment and reflect on what your scores might be telling you. Reflect on your results using the questions on the next few slides.
Examine the Why
Look deeper into the reasons behind your scores.
Emotional Weight Heavy or Light? Do some causes feel more emotionally charged than others? Recent or Long-Standing? Are they linked to recent events, or have they been present for years?
Influence and Control Within Control or Beyond Control? Can you influence these factors directly? Internal or External? Do they arise from beliefs and expectations, or from circumstances like work, relationships or health?
Stability Over Time Temporary or Persistent? Do these causes fluctuate with mood or situation, or remain steady over time?
What message might your Emotional Self be giving you today?
Interpret Your Emotional Self’s Message
Understand what your scores are really telling you.
What Stands Out? Which areas feel most important right now? What seems to need understanding before action?
Signals for Change Where might your Emotional Self be asking for balance? Where might it be asking for reassurance? Where might it be asking for change?
Turning Score into Insight Your scores are not just numbers. They are signals helping you understand what matters to you right now.
Meaning Map Causes – Example
Personal Growth
Understand the causes behind your feelings
”I found the Causes stage of The Meaning Map surprisingly revealing”
Once I mapped out the causes behind my feelings about retirement, patterns began to appear — some obvious, others unexpected.
- ·where my worries were really coming from
- ·what was still influencing my decisions
- ·how much control I actually had over what comes next
Understanding the causes behind our feelings often reveals patterns we hadn’t previously recognised.
Meaning Map Causes – Example
Emotional Realisation
Understanding emotions as useful messages
”Working through the Causes stage helped me make sense of emotions I couldn’t explain”
I realised that my frustration about retirement wasn’t really about leaving work — it was about losing structure and purpose. Seeing those causes written down was confronting at first, but it shifted something in me. I could finally see my emotions as useful messages, not problems to fix. It made the whole transition feel more manageable.
Suzannah
Understanding your emotions can reveal deeper issues making transitions feel more manageable.
Meaning Map Causes – Example
Practical Outcomes
Mapping causes for practical outcomes
”The Causes stage was where everything started to click.”
I began to understand why certain parts of retirement felt easy and others didn’t. Identifying the causes behind those feelings gave me a clear focus for change. Once I could see what was helping and what was holding me back, I started adjusting small things in my routine and mindset. It’s made my days feel more balanced and my confidence grow steadily.
Richard
Identifying causes for our feelings gives us a clear focus for adjusting mindset and routines.
Assessing Your Current Reality
The first step toward creating the retirement you truly want.
LIke, Richi, Suzannah and Richard, you’ve taken an important step. Assessing the current state of the key areas of your life is the first step towards creating your desired retirement. Meaning is created when you look without judgement and recognise things as they are.
Meaning is created when you look without judgement and recognise things as they are.
Responding to What You’ve Discovered
LIke, Richi, Suzannah and Richard, you’ve taken an important step. Assessing the current state of the key areas of your life is the first step towards creating your desired retirement. Meaning is created when you look without judgement and recognise things as they are.
This stage helps you restore balance and make meaningful progress.