The truth of early retirement and finding purpose! Episode 004

In this episode, Chris and Debbie are inspired by his morning reading to chat about:

• The unexpected obstacles of early “retirement”
• The expected pit-falls that they tried to prepare for
• How Chris is feeling about leaving his W2 job after a few months, compared to Debbie’s feelings after several years
• The routine that fuels them mentally, emotionally, and physically
• Finding “purpose” after leaving W2 employment 

They leave you with:

Chris’ contemplation of the passage in The Logic of God (his morning reading) spurred our conversation today. It said, ‘Those in pain look for comfort and explanation. Those disappointed in pleasure look for purpose.’

It reminded me of so many moments in life, perhaps after seeking the answer, ‘Why?’ to whatever might have been bringing me pain. I mistook the answer in achievement or purpose or moment in the future. That often sounded like:

• ‘If we just get this car, everything will be better.’ OR
• ‘When we have that house in that neighborhood, we’ll be so much happier.’ OR
• ‘Once I leave my job, all my stress, worry, and discomfort will leave too.’

The truth was that each time we got one of those items or achievements, they pointed to the real answer–no thing or achievement can solve your problems or bring you happiness.

The truth: I had to do that myself, through conscious choices, deep work of introspection to find the true source of dis-ease, getting clear about my values, and daily practices of being present and grateful.

There’s no regret in leaving a job that brought me both incredible fulfillment and very little free time or energy to spare. It was leaving that job that gave me the time and space to realize the true source of my stress, how to begin to heal my body that was crying out for attention, and that tying my primary purpose in a job that gives me a monthly paycheck and good insurance would never be fully fulfilling.

It was only, after all, the disappointment in the pleasure I was seeking that led me to glimpses of my purpose outside of a W2 job that I could say I was good at. The disappointment was a necessary part of the lesson.

AND purpose? I now believe I can take that with me everywhere I go and in any job I may decide to do. I do myself a favor by taking that word a lot less seriously too. I examine my curiosity much more than I examine my purpose these days.

So to you, friends, may you make some time and space for yourselves today–time and space to ask what it is you may be curious about. May you give yourself permission to hold all of life a little looser–the pain, the discomfort, the disappointment, the purpose, the pleasure. May you spend a little more time in gratitude for all you have in the present moment, knowing that that’s where true happiness is found. AND may you be so inspired by your own gratitude and curiosity that you realize you have just this ONE LIFE and you can go out and LIVE IT! today