Are You Confused? The How-To of Creative Retirement Planning
Are you Confused? Good! Contrary to what you have been told, confusion can be a positive state of mind. Sometimes, discombobulation can show us the places in our lives where we are outgrowing the old and calling for the new.
Just as in my previous post I spoke about the benefits of fear, in this one I want to let you in on a valuable secret: confusion about something can sometimes be a good thing.
Creative Retirement Planning
When we know the parameters of what to expect in our relationships, job or health, we seem to breeze through life without anxiety, and we like that! Most of us would prefer the feeling of certainty and the comfort it brings rather than the disconcertment that comes with chaos.
Except Life isn’t always so easy. Confusion can show us an open door.
Just as pain or fear can motivate us to make a change, confusion lets us know where there might be an open door or window to new opportunities. Turning a routine on its head is upsetting, but think of it as clearing the cobwebs out. Dust flies but the result is something newer and brighter.
Examples:
Ok, so let’s say you are thinking about retiring but you cannot afford your current housing situation plus having a second house in your chosen retirement location. The entire situation has you uneasy because perhaps you don’t really want to sell your place anyway, and the current market for housing has been sludgy.
Pair-ah-what?
What you might require is a paradigm shift. Those are fancy words for “considering your options.”
Take a piece of paper and on the left hand side write the word “Housing.” Draw a line down the center and on the right side of the line begin to brainstorm anything possible to solve your situation.
Move your mind from the “problem set” and walk into the “solution set.”
Even if an idea seems a repeat, or seems obvious or even something you don’t care for, don’t stop listing. Keep the momentum going until you run out of steam.
Sample Solutions for Creative Retirement Planning:
Doing a house exchange
House sitting in a new location
Renting your house out while you travel
Rent just a room for the extra income
If you have a bi-level, rent out one level to cover expenses
Becoming snowbirds as an option
Renting in the new location instead of buying
The above possibilities are just starters. What else can you think of?
Perhaps you want to retire or even semi-retire, but you don’t feel that you have sufficient funds. Get out the piece of paper again with the word “Money” on the left side, and "Options" on the right.
Sell your dog (egads!)
Have a lemonade stand
Part time work
Teach English as a second language
Make money from a hobby
Pair down to one vehicle
Consider non-financial exchanges for services
Write as many outlandish or common sense ideas that you can come up with and keep that list growing.
The next step
Now, on a separate sheet of paper take any of your possible solutions and list all the reasons why it could work.
You might already have resistance to some of your responses – so go ahead and write those down too, but on a different piece of paper. Here on this piece of paper, you are trying to build up the reasons why your possibilities could actually be implemented.
Play devil’s advocate
If you have a spouse or a good friend that you can trust, take turns playing devil’s advocate for why these are good ideas.
At the end of this exercise you should have a list of viable alternatives to your previous conundrum and you won’t view your circumstances in the same light. Sometimes it might take a combination of these options to have a workable solution, but at least now, you are not grabbing at air. You have solid choices. Going through new doors is scary, but it's the way to create the life you want.
As long as your confusion continues, proceed with the above exercise to generate ideas. And welcome confusion as holding a key to a better future.
