Are You Running From the Cat - Or Towards the Cheese?
Why reframing your retirement mindset is the key to living a more fulfilling life
When we talk to clients nearing retirement, the most common thing we hear is what they’re ready to leave behind:
The exhausting early mornings
The pressure of keeping clients and staff happy
The stress of being responsible for everything
The constant, low-level hum of fatigue
This is completely normal. After decades of showing up, delivering results, managing teams, and supporting others, who wouldn’t want a break?
But there’s a problem we often see.
Most people start retirement by running away from the cat. Few stop to consider… what they’re running towards.
The “Cat and Cheese” Experiment
There’s a psychology experiment often referred to as the “cat and cheese” test.
Imagine a rat in a tunnel, pulling on a spring to reach a piece of cheese. When the cheese is the only motivator, the rat pulls with a certain amount of force.
But introduce the scent of a cat behind the rat, and everything changes.
The rat pulls harder, faster, and longer.
Why? Because fear (the cat) is often a more powerful motivator than reward (the cheese). And when both are present, when there’s something to avoid and something to gain, the effort becomes unstoppable.
Retirement Begins With the Cat…
The majority of people retire to get away from something. The "cat" might be a toxic workplace, unreasonable demands, boredom, burnout, or simply the feeling that you’ve had enough.
You leave because you need to. And that’s a valid, and often necessary, first step.
But here’s where we need to pause, and reframe.
Retirement that’s driven only by escape will feel good at first… but without a clear purpose pulling you forward, that relief can slowly turn into restlessness.
You’ve run from the cat.
Now it’s time to start running towards the cheese.
But What If You Don’t Know What Your Cheese Is?
Here’s the truth: most people don’t know right away.
For decades, your time, energy, and money have been directed toward responsibility. Paying bills. Raising kids. Building businesses. Meeting obligations.
You haven’t had the resources, or the permission, to chase the things that light you up. And so it makes perfect sense if you find yourself thinking:
“I don’t even know what I want anymore.”
The Answer? Experiment.
You don’t need to have it all figured out on day one of retirement. In fact, you probably shouldn’t.
Now is the time to test, explore, and try.
Say yes to things that seem interesting.
Try things that feel totally out of character.
Revisit old hobbies you abandoned years ago.
Volunteer. Travel. Take a course.
Explore the wild, the weird, and the wonderful.
Retirement isn’t about perfect plans, it’s about playful curiosity.
Over time, patterns will emerge. You’ll discover what energises you, what fills your cup, and what gives your days structure and meaning.
This is how you find your cheese.
A New Way to Answer “What Do You Do?”
Eventually, someone will ask you the question we all get asked:
“So, what do you do now?”
And your answer doesn’t need to be a job title anymore.
It could be:
“I’m exploring everything that interests me.”
“I’m investing in what matters to me.”
“I’m finally doing things just because I want to.”
“I’m running toward my cheese.”
That’s not retirement. That’s freedom with intention.
We’re Here to Help You Reframe What Retirement Can Be
At Total Wealth Group, we help clients plan for retirement not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and meaningfully.
We believe retirement should be more than just freedom from stress. It should be freedom towards purpose.
If you’re ready to start discovering your cheese, we’d love to help.
Reach out to start the conversation.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please seek personalised advice from a licensed financial adviser before making any decisions regarding your retirement or investments.