How many people do you know who are waiting to reach some sort of golden milestone – retirement age, pension eligibility, a certain level wealth – so they can finally be free to follow their passion? Tim Ferriss, author of The Four-Hour Workweek, calls this way of living the “deferred-life plan.” In other words, waiting until the end of your life to do what you really want.
When put that way, I couldn’t help but look at my own life, and the lives of others around me. Most of us are doing what we have to do so one day we can do what we want to do. Ironically, this model is supposed to bring you security but in reality, it’s just as risky as going out and living your dream tomorrow. Consider the current economic climate. How many millions of people played by the rules and were on the verge of retirement only to have their dreams dashed when the economy fell to pieces? How depressing to have spent your whole life waiting, saving, dreaming of the day when you’d finally be free to do what you want, only to have it taken away in a second. However, if you have waited till retirement age, that’s okay. There’s no reason as to why you can’t do what you want to do now. For example, if you would like to go traveling, you should go for it! Just make sure that when you come back, you have a warm and welcoming home to come back to, perhaps in retirement living. At least you won’t have to worry about the furnace being on the blink when you get home, or the TV playing up. Everything’s done for you! However, if you’re still young and not quite reached retirement age, read on.
So what stands in our way? Why do we resign ourselves to the 9-to-5 grind rather going after our dreams? There are dozens of factors: money, time, fear, the economy, the list goes on and on. What I realized is that following your dreams is like going to the gym, you’ll always be able to come up with SOME reason not to do it. So instead of focusing on why you can’t do what you want with your life, ask yourself: how can I do what I want with my life?
I don’t know why we do this. For me, it took getting laid off in a bad economy to finally be forced into working on my dream of becoming a writer. It’s just sad that I had to be forced, but if that’s what it takes, then long live pink slips!
could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Thanks for the nice compliment on my writing! I appreciate it and I urge you to follow your heart as well.
Erika
Do what you have to do. Do what you want to do. Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is more important than the outcome.
https://arshihaider.com/2020/12/26/the-deferred-life-plan/