What exactly is this ‘Leading your Retirement’ process?
Let me break it down for you. Leadership is not just about interacting with others so that they do something. It is also about leading ourselves into action, into taking control of our lives. We all are, to different extents, leaders by nature or by choice.
In a previous article, I described retirement as a journey into the next best stage of our lives. Retirement is not the final destination. In this context, we lead ourselves into this new phase. We can CHOOSE to act, to influence, and eventually control our own inner attitude towards retirement. We can also improve upon external circumstances that are seemingly out of our power.
This in a nutshell is what Leading Your Retirement means.
How can you take full control of this inner attitude towards retirement? Is there a way to mitigate, or even transcend those external factors that appear to conspire against your progress?
The answer lies on how well you are aware of your ENERGY, and on how you can shift it so that it works for, and not against you.
What is this ‘Energetic Potential’?
During my first year in College, back when I thought I wanted to become a physicist, I came across one of the most inspiring and life-changing passages I ever read in my life, from the book The Tao of Physics by Frifjof Capra, first published in 1975 by Shambhala Publications.
The following is an excerpt of Capra’s Preface in which he describes an experience that served as an inspiration to write his book:
“I was sitting by the ocean one late summer afternoon, watching the waves rolling in and feeling the rhythm of my breathing, when I suddenly became aware of my whole environment as being engaged in a gigantic cosmic dance.”
“Being a physicist, I knew that the sand, rocks, water and air around me were made of vibrating molecules and atoms, and that these consisted of particles which interacted with one another by creating and destroying other particles. I knew also that the Earth’s atmosphere was continually bombarded by showers of ‘cosmic rays’, particles of high energy undergoing multiple collisions as they penetrated the air.”
“All this was familiar to me from my research in high-energy physics, but until that moment I had only experienced it through graphs, diagrams and mathematical theories. As I sat on that beach my former experiences came to life; I ‘saw’ cascades of energy coming down from outer space, in which particles were created and destroyed in rhythmic pulses; I ‘saw’ the atoms of the elements and those of my body participating in this cosmic dance of energy; I felt its rhythm and I ‘heard’ its sound…”
What Capra describes is not just physical, or material energy. His experience is an intuitive perception of the physical, mental, and cosmic energy of which we are all made, and which surrounds us and encompasses the Universe as a whole.
Every instant of our lives is a manifestation of this wondrous and joyful Energy. We use it to move, act, think, feel, create, and yes, sometimes destroy. It is always there, but most people are not conscious of it. But what if you were to UNCOVER IT, to become fully aware of it, and to direct it to work in your favor at all times?
You would then be LEADING your energy. Or better yet, you would be tapping into this energy you already posses, to lead your journey into retirement.
The Leading Your Retirement Process
In a previous blog article, I briefly described before the SEVEN LEVELS of energy that are at the core of the Leading Your Retirement process. These levels are based on the Energy Leadership™ system developed since the late 1990s by Dr. Bruce D. Schneider, in which you learn how to become aware of your energy and that of those around you, and how to shift it to higher levels. Each one of these levels is characterized by a core thought, emotion, and action or result.
Our energy may shift considerably between these levels during any given time period. One way to visualize this is by imagining that you are riding up and down an elevator in a seven-story building. The two lowermost levels may be viewed as being ‘below ground or basement’ levels, where catabolic or destructive energy dominates. The other five levels are above ground, where constructive, healing, and expanding anabolic energy reigns.
Where you are in this seemingly endless elevator ride determines how successful you will be in anything you set out to do. And retirement is no exception.
If, for example, you don’t have an idea of where you stand in your financial planning for retirement, a typical Level 1 energy ‘Victim’ thought might be: “Why even bother preparing for retirement? I am never going to make it…” You decided to remain stuck and not even try. The result is INACTION.
Or you could have a different thought inspired by a higher level of energy, such as “l want to have complete clarity on my retirement vision, and to know where I am financially today, so that I can adjust my present situation and be able to retire with the people I love”. This thought brings peace and confidence and results in OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE.
Can you feel the difference?
What Can you Do?
The first thing that you can do is to monitor how your energy fluctuates during the day, or from one day to another. Remember, by ‘energy’ I am not just referring to the physical aspects, but to your whole energetic makeup.
Pay close attention to your ‘triggers’, especially under stress. These are those situations (sometimes other people) that cause our energy to shift up or down. Try to monitor these, and then WRITE THEM DOWN. If they are recurring, then you know you must do something about them.
There are other tools to help you if you feel you are stuck and in need of a push.
The Energy Leadership Index Assessment™ is a powerful system to help you ascertain where you are energetically NOW. Once you know and become aware of your energy, then you can choose to shift it UP by removing those limiting beliefs or thoughts that may be blocking your access to the higher levels of consciousness which you already posses.
As an accredited Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, I am authorized to administer such an assessment, and to debrief and discuss the results with my coaching clients.
If you are interested, I will be happy to schedule a free strategy session with you.
In Peace and Prosperity,
