On Fears and Retirement Plans

​Fear is so persistent, isn't it? Very persuasive too. Just extremely limiting. Fear is the most common emotion to block us from stepping into our power. Our greatness. Our divinity. And into a life of freedom, joy and ecstasy.

Recently a friend of mine asked me if I ever worry about my finances and retirement. She hit a sensitive topic for me. One that I've relived over and over. A fear that I haven't been able to fully let go. Yet. I'm slowly but surely transcending that. With each intentional moment of sending out my gratitude for all that I have and cultivate my trust for everything that will still be provided for me.

Retirement. Pension schemes. Mental constructs of society. Illusions. Maya. I don't believe in this system that we've created. Disguised as a 'we're all looking after each other' social system. I might agree on the fact that the initial intention behind it is pure. It has qualities of sharing, community, helping the less fortunate and co-creation. The execution and what it's done to people's fear is less exciting. It created a conditioned mindset that leads you to believe that without a very elaborate government controlled retirement saving plan, you'll basically be left to die once you "retire". But guess what, retirement too, is a story invented by the Western human mindset. Ever seen a retired Balinese farmer? Or a retired Indian Sage? I haven't. And that's inspiring and confirming for me.

I, for my part, envision myself doing what I love doing, living a life that fulfills, to the moment of my last breath. Which in turn will sustain me through to the end. In whichever way the universe intends to provide for me. I trust I will be provided for.

If you're the "rational both feet on the ground" type of person, I'm with you. I'm aware that we do need money. We do need security. We do need savings. But where do you draw the line from letting fear guide you in this process and letting it flow freely and effortlessly. The latter meaning, work a job that you love. Live simple. Live free. Be healthy. Find your purpose, your passion, your dharma. Whatever you wanna call it. Then do that. Until the day you die. And if you happen to be able to save up a bit of money in this effortless process. Good for you! Use it. Live. Give. Enjoy. And feel safe. Stay independent from a system that only invokes fear and makes money out of exactly that.

It takes courage and strength to stand my ground in this belief. This vision of my very own unique retirement plan. I keep getting hit with well-intended but oh so strongly conditioned advice on how I should probably start thinking about the future (read retirement) soon. First of all, I don't do future. Never really have. Learnt the hard way when life always changed my plans. Second, of all, I won't ever retire from life - how could I! Life's is so beautiful. And life is always what you make of it. You create it. And when you live it the way you want, why in your good senses would you want to retire from that.

In a conventional world, you retire from your "job" and loose purpose. You don't know what to do with yourself because you've spent all your life numbing your feelings, desires, visions, dreams to be able to fit in and not let the system crush you. And now, you're left empty. Because the job that defined your life is no longer. And despite the fact that you most likely hated it - it gave you reason. Purpose. You never questioned that. Until now that you're retired and your reason is gone. Your health - mentally and physically - has seen better days. All of the sudden you have all this time on your hands, but you never learnt to be with yourself. To let your individual creativity express. To listen to what you really desire and not what someone else tells you. Be that a person, the system or just money itself.

If money dictates the bigger part of your life and why you do a certain job - chances are you've had to numb yourself to deal with it while your soul crumbles under the weight of greed and attachment. And what happens when you retire from your money-dictated working life and you are left with the wonderful chance to "just be"? Who will you be? Will you know what sparks your passion for life?

You're risking that at that age of retirement, you will either spiral downward because the weight of time for yourself is too much to handle or the slightly better scenario is that you start to peel your layers, one by one. And you start to get to know yourself. And if you're lucky you're still in good enough health to live your dreams.

But why wait?! Why wait until the system sets you free to live fully? Start now. Don't worry about the future and live your life the way that feels good for you. And if that doesn't include pension schemes and retirement plans, trust the universe and you'll be just fine. Let go of the fear entirely. Completely. And for good.

This is most importantly a reminder for myself to not let fear interfere with the way I want to live my life. This particular fear puts me in a space of scarcity rather than abundance. Which in turn blocks the flow and attracts even more scarcity. My journey has been to let go of financial worries and step into attracting abundance now and always. And even if I should decide to retire from doing what I love doing - it'll be an abundant retirement not dependent on pension schemes. And I'm not necessarily speaking about money. Abundance comes is many different forms and shapes. But that's for another day.

​Thank you for reading. Love always x