Saving for Retirement - Beginning the Journey Toward Change

If you are a newcomer to this series of articles,overnight. For most of us, that is not the way life
Saving for Retirement, I feel I should recap some ofworks. To move beyond stressing over saving for
what we've covered so far. We see lots or stories,retirement, your financial situation must significantly
articles, studies and reports telling us that we arechange. For your financial situation to change
such poor savers. They tell us that less than one halfsignificantly you must change significantly, more
of the adult population has saved $25,000 or moreaccurately, your thinking has to change significantly.
toward retirement. They even make you believe thatAs I stated in a previous article, you must begin to
it is your fault! How does that make you feel? Well Ilive what I call The 180 Degree Life, a life in which
can't think of one positive, uplifting emotion Iyour thinking is 180 degrees in the opposite direction
experienced from reading that information.of where you presently live. Now I know that this
What they don't tell you in those articles, stories,concept is troubling for you at first. That's good! You'll
studies and reports is the fact that only a very fewsee why I say "that's good" a little later.
paycheck-to-paycheck employees earn enoughI'm getting a little ahead of myself, so let's get back
money to live the lives they desire while working andto your assignment from the last article. Your
save enough to live the lives they desire inchallenge (if you chose to accept it) was to carve
retirement as well. Since you're reading this article,out some quiet time for your self, take out a few
chances you are one of the larger majority who dosheets of paper, draw a line down the middle of the
not earn enough instead of one of the few who do.sheet or sheets and begin listing on the left side of
As I have previously stated, if you're in that majoritythe page ANY and ALL beliefs, situations, habits and
and you're satisfied with your situation, then by allconditions that you can think of that you do not
means stay put where you are. You are certainlywant in your life any more because they no longer
free to choose what manner of life you live, so longbenefit you. Be honest with yourself. This list is for
as it is not illegal and does not interfere with rights ofyour eyes only. You have had more than enough
others, no matter how others may feel about your"input" or "advice" from others during your life. In
choices. If, on the other hand, you are not satisfied,fact, where do you think most of your present
you probably still feel powerless to do anythingundesirable thoughts and beliefs came from? This
differently to bring about different outcomes in yourexercise is about you working on your own individual
life. You are now where I was not long ago, and it tolife no matter how uncomfortable it might feel initially!
you and for you that I write these articles.This is the beginning of a journey, and this journey
It is not likely that the stars are going to suddenlyrequires that you get started in the right direction.
align themselves and heap fortune and fame uponRemember, you do not have to live on less in
you. It not likely that the winds of change areretirement. No matter where you are right now
suddenly going to sweep you up into the top 3-5%financially, you can build and enjoy a Million Dollar
of income earners and bring you financial freedomlifestyle retirement.