No one can dispute that the best way to live life is to live every moment. Rather than dwelling in the thoughts about past & future, live in the now and you will realize that dealing with the challenges of life is not that difficult.
But when we do financial planning, we think about future goals. Also, we occasionally refer to our past to understand our beliefs about investments and finances. Does this mean that financial planning is not compatible with “live in the now?”
It may seem so if you only see the surface. However, if you look a little deeper, you will realize that planning for the future or even referring to the past to understand the present behaviour is not out of sync with living in the now. When you are attentively planning for the future, you are so much focused in the now that your entire attention is towards the task in hand. In such a situation, you are trying to see the future through your present and doing that makes you live in that particular moment.
For example when you are planning for retirement, you are focussing on your life after retirement. You may think about the monthly income you require after retirement, the things you want to do, how much you need to save to reach that goal etc, you may also get ready for the situation that if you fall short of your goal, what are the back up plans. If you plan all these things, you are perfectly honouring the present moment because everything is happening in the now. On the other hand, if you only worry about your retirement without taking any action or planning then you are letting the present pass you by. Many people only worry about their retirement or other financial goals whereas some may be lamenting why they have not started investment earlier. Both these melodies are unconscious activities because you are losing the “now” through worry and regret.
Your financial planning and subsequent implementation of that planning, could actually be an important portal to live in the now. Financial planning would then be like your “Zen” that not only addresses your financial goals but also opens the gate of awakening consciousness.
Manoj Pandey
CFP
