{"id":995,"date":"2023-06-08T15:57:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T15:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/faysfitness.com\/?p=995"},"modified":"2023-06-08T15:57:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T15:57:12","slug":"enlightenment-in-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/08\/enlightenment-in-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Enlightenment in Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/getready.substack.com\/p\/enlightenment-in-retirement\"><em>Originally appearing in GetReady Substack<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I take a Western view of Enlightenment. I believe the volumes of ancient texts written on the subject can be reduced to a half dozen or so bullet points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enlightenment is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An awakening. Becoming conscious of oneself and our surroundings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Freeing. It frees us from the things in life that have held us in bondage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Truth seeking. Once we\u2019re free and conscious, it is our nature \u201cto seek truth and practice it\u201d. This results in wisdom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gaining Peace of Mind. No more being stressed out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discovering and focusing on what\u2019s important. Putting first things first- like relationships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fulfilling your purpose &#8211; self actualization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For many of us, there\u2019s no better time than retirement to put your pursuit of enlightenment into high gear.<\/strong>\u00a0When you\u2019re working a job and supporting a family, it\u2019s very hard to to free up time from every day pressures. When your life is in high gear, it\u2019s difficult to even think straight. Retirement can change all that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mainly because you have time to think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, Retirement Enlightenment doesn\u2019t work for all people of retiring age in this country and abroad. Consider Maslow\u2019s Hierarchy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff71a405f-e526-48d0-a98d-0fd4b91b472c_630x469.webp?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456%2Cc_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff71a405f-e526-48d0-a98d-0fd4b91b472c_630x469.webp?w=604&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get to the point of being prepared for Enlightenment, all your basic needs have to be met. If you\u2019re still struggling to provide Basic Needs for yourself like food and shelter, higher needs such as Self-actualization and Enlightenment are a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But for those of us in this country that have made good choices financially, there is indeed a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And that pot of gold is the chance to self-actualize and be enlightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am a planner by nature and having a plan in place gives me direction and reduces stress. Even as a planner, I recognize that plans are secondary to getting things done. That\u2019s why for many projects I\u2019ll just plan enough to figure out what needs to be done to get started and then get on it. I\u2019ll then finish the plan as I go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is how life can be. We start life knowing we need a job and want kids, but the planning to the end of our lives is limited. And that\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But then we retire. What do we do now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We finish writing our plan\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Awakening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you haven\u2019t already, gaining consciousness is the first step in your Enlightenment journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enlightenment involves stepping out of your pre-programmed self. I think of life as a video game where there are main players and there are other \u201cNon-Player Characters (NPCs) in the game. The NPCs run a simple program in their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be enlightened you have to choose to no longer be an NPC running a program in someone else\u2019s game. But it requires consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think you\u2019re already conscious? OK. Maybe you are. Here are some questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do you take care of yourself by eating right and exercise? If not, perhaps your unhealthy habits are part of your programming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When was the last time you took on an unusual challenge like starting a business or buying a house to flip?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How similar is one day to the next? How similar is one outing to another?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are you a critical thinker? Do you follow a narrative of a group or do you see many sides to issues?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are your emotions in control of you?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being awake is more than not sleepwalking. It\u2019s about being Truman in The Truman Show or Neo in the Matrix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Blue Pill or Red Pill - The Matrix (2\/9) Movie CLIP (1999) HD\" width=\"604\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zE7PKRjrid4?start=2&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019re conscious &#8211; or cognitively awake &#8211; you can see what you\u2019ve become and start to put the pieces back together to being alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>I\u2019m happy. I don\u2019t care about enlightenment.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So you\u2019re content. That\u2019s cool. But true happiness can only come when you\u2019re awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being conscious can be scary. Thrilling is a better word. There\u2019s security in running the program &#8211; going through the routine. But once you\u2019ve made the transition from NPC to main character, the world gets new meaning. Your eyes are opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only once you\u2019re awake can you discover meaning. Meaning is the source of fulfillment and fulfillment is required for real happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this all begins with opening your mind; Recognizing that you\u2019re running a program that\u2019s been developed over decades. The things you\u2019ve done and the choices you made have brought you to where you are now and NOW is the time to be fulfilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freedom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retirement offers freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time in your life you\u2019re not living to provide for others like your kids or your employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many don\u2019t know what to do with this freedom. Their programming is so ingrained it\u2019s difficult to change. They rationalize with \u201cWhy change now? My best years are behind me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is false. Your best could very well be ahead of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the sooner you \u201cretire\u201d the better you\u2019ll be physically, mentally and spiritually to do it right. Don\u2019t be stupid about it, but realize that getting too comfortable with the program you\u2019re running is a very sad way to spend the potentially \u201cBest Third\u201d of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sooner you free yourself from the shackles, the better your odds are for success in retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seeking Truth and Practicing It<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enlightenment is a chance to fully realize your purpose on this planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But discovering your purpose can be difficult with all the distractions and \u201cnoise\u201d keeping you from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019re conscious, it\u2019s time to&nbsp;<strong>open your mind by listening, reading, discussing, and meditating.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can\u2019t discover your purpose if you are too busy keeping busy. You have to shut down and reboot. You have to step out of the rut you are in and take the 30,000 foot view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this requires Quiet Time. Tons of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m not talking about time to ruminate about all the little, relatively meaningless things you have going on. I\u2019m talking about quiet meditation to think about your purpose. What you SHOULD be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you plug into the universe spiritually, the universe &#8211; read God &#8211; it will set you straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t expect a revelation. It doesn\u2019t work this way in my experience. The world around you will reveal what your next steps are. Perhaps it will start with a book someone refers to you. Or maybe there\u2019s a gnawing project you have always wanted to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s time for something different. Be ready for change. Once you have your marching orders, it\u2019s time to get to it. Distractions are everywhere. Your mission is to stay on task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you\u2019re looking for a starting point for your efforts, look to reduce pain and suffering wherever you go. It\u2019s a simple task that gets you out of your head and helps orient you to doing the right things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Peace of Mind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retirement is a great time to chill. A time to truly enjoy life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For some, the purpose of retirement is to just relax. Maybe take up some golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those that wait too long to retire, that may be all they are capable of. They may have neglected themselves or worked too hard, too long and all they can do is relax. Doesn\u2019t sound all that bad to most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s not how my \u201cretirement\u201d is. I did not retire to a life of leisure. I\u2019ve retired to a life of doing exactly what I want. A life of freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I have to say that even though I have retired to a life of work, I am a lot less stressed out then many that retired to a life of leisure. I attribute this to where my mind is at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your mind has to be active to be happy. So does your body. Inactivity causes decay. Decay causes chronic pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peace of mind and happiness comes from constructive work that is meaningful and that you enjoy. You just have to do a great job of managing the stress down to a healthy level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a stress scale of 1-10, I find running at a 6-7 is ideal for me. I like having plenty to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But once in a while, I run hot. Normally due to some exogenous circumstance. I had this happen recently when my daughter came to visit with her two dogs. I was left in charge of them one day and the big one took off and did not respond when called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I lost it. So much for peace of mind. Back to meditation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First Things First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We gravitate to doing the projects we like rather than the projects that need to be done. It\u2019s human nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But success is determined by our ability to properly prioritize. That goes for retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to get the important things done. This in turn reduces our stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I was getting ready to retire I asked others that were close about their plans. Many mentioned how they had a bunch of house projects they had put off that needed to be done. Thinking to myself: \u201cBut what about after those things are done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I need a plan, where others are satisfied with going with the flow. Those home projects are perfect for keeping someone occupied until they discover what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But while you\u2019re painting that bedroom, think about what\u2019s important:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More time with family and friends. Don\u2019t constrain yourself to just visiting. Take on a working project together. Babysit a grandkid. Hire a relative to help you with home project. Rebuild relationships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spend more time helping others. Check with the local food bank or Meals on Wheels. Check with your local Senior Center.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discover what you really enjoy doing in a job and start a business or take on a part-time job that is fulfilling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And for heaven\u2019s sake get in good shape! No more excuses! Physical health should be your first choice!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fulfillment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nirvana is not a destination on the path to Enlightenment. It\u2019s a continuation of your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retirement can be the \u201cbest third\u201d of your life, full of meaning and connections. But first you have to separate from your past life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My wife was reading a book about how to change the way you think. It involves changing your brain\u2019s pathways of thinking. These pathways have been set in place since you were born. All your experiences along with your genetics determines the pathway programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They likened creating these brain pathways to walking down a trail. Eventually, you reach a destination. That\u2019s where you are now. If you want to change the pathways, just come up with a new desired location (way of thinking) and then map out a course to think that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow the hell do you do that?\u201d I asked, \u201cYou don\u2019t even know where you are and how you got there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI haven\u2019t gotten to that part yet.\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I know the answer to the question. It\u2019s Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a nutshell, CBT is stepping away from the behavior and looking at it objectively with your conscious mind and saying, \u201cWhy\u2019d I do that?\u201d. Followed by, \u201cWhat should I do in the future when I encounter a similar circumstance?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only way to change those pathways &#8211; the trail you\u2019ve walked down for many years &#8211; is to STOP; figure out exactly where you are (cognitively); and then discover a new destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the main reasons I retired early was because I had a hard time believing that my job was all that God had planned for me in my later years. It was a leap of faith that paid off in big ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I wish you the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/getready.substack.com\/p\/enlightenment-in-retirement\/comments\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Originally appearing in GetReady Substack I take a Western view of Enlightenment. I believe the volumes of ancient texts written on the subject can be reduced to a half dozen or so bullet points. Enlightenment is: For many of us, there\u2019s no better time than retirement to put your pursuit of enlightenment into high gear.\u00a0When &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/08\/enlightenment-in-retirement\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Enlightenment in Retirement<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-message-from-ron"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=995"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":996,"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/995\/revisions\/996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faysfitness.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}