Why Life Planning Isn’t for Everyone: Only the Seeker May Hope to Be Free

Life planning isn’t simply about setting financial targets or preparing for the future in a material sense. It’s about delving deeply into our true selves before shaping the financial architecture to support that life. For those seeking to understand the essence of life planning, it’s about exploring purpose, well-being, and alignment across mind, body, heart, and spirit. But here’s the reality: not everyone is ready to seek well-being to this degree. Some may approach life planning purely to organise money, but genuine life planning requires an openness to look beyond material desires, to truly seek a fulfilling and holistic life.

For those only seeking monetary gain, a life planner may not be the right fit. These clients, prioritising wealth alone, may not find value in a life plan’s process, which is fundamentally rooted in well-being, meaning, and self-discovery. It’s a matter of fit; life planners must respectfully turn away those who are not ready, knowing that the journey is as much about understanding the soul’s desires as it is about securing financial goals.

Veils of Consciousness: Uncovering Your True Self

To understand life planning’s depth, it helps to explore a few guiding principles from the ancient concept of the veils of consciousness. These veils symbolise barriers that shield deeper truths and protect a sacred inner understanding. As we seek meaning beyond the material, we gradually pull back these veils and gain insight into our truest selves.

The Veil of Physicality

Imagine this veil as the barrier that separates us from seeing ourselves beyond our everyday experiences. For many, life is confined to this veil—focused on physical needs, material achievements, and personal identity. Crossing this veil requires us to recognise that we are more than our possessions, accolades, and personality traits. It’s an awakening to a deeper part of us—a soul that yearns for more than the physical realm can offer. When we cross this veil, we begin to understand our purpose, seeing life as an opportunity for growth, connection, and joy.

The Veil of the Abyss

This veil is subtler and deeper than the first. It represents the threshold beyond which lies our divine self—the truest, purest part of who we are. Often referred to as the Abyss, this is where we leave behind the familiar and enter a space where we connect with something greater than ourselves. It’s a journey of releasing the ego, letting go of limiting beliefs, and embracing a higher sense of purpose. This doesn’t happen through intellectual knowledge alone; it’s a journey of self-realisation and wisdom gained through life experience. Only those truly seeking can cross this veil, finding unity with their deeper self and, ultimately, freedom.

Life Planning for the Seeker

Life planning, then, is for those who are prepared to explore these depths. It goes far beyond creating a roadmap for wealth. It involves understanding and integrating every layer of our being—physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual—into the life we envision. And while financial stability is an essential part of a balanced life, it is only one piece of a larger puzzle. The goal of life planning is holistic fulfilment, not simply the accumulation of wealth.

So, if you’re ready to explore beyond material goals, to uncover your purpose, and to align your finances in support of that journey, life planning can be the key to a life of meaning, freedom, and self-awareness. Remember, only those who seek will find, and only those who truly wish to know themselves may pull back the veils to discover what lies within.

In the end, life planning isn’t for everyone—but for the seeker, it’s everything.

Questions & Answers

Q: What exactly is life planning, and how is it different from traditional financial planning?

A: Life planning goes beyond numbers and spreadsheets. It’s about envisioning your ideal life—considering your well-being in mind, body, heart, and spirit—before addressing the financial means to support it. Unlike traditional financial planning, which focuses solely on financial goals, life planning invites you to uncover your purpose and align your resources to create a fulfilling life. It’s about asking “What kind of life do I truly want?” and then building a financial foundation around that vision.

Q: Why isn’t life planning suitable for everyone?

A: Life planning requires a willingness to look deeply at yourself, beyond material goals and towards a holistic sense of purpose. Some people may only want guidance on accumulating wealth or meeting financial goals, which doesn’t necessarily align with life planning. Life planning is best for those who are open to exploring their deeper aspirations, understanding their values, and building a life that reflects them. Without this openness, the true value of life planning can be hard to appreciate.

Q: What are the “veils of consciousness,” and why are they relevant to life planning?

A: The “veils of consciousness” are symbolic barriers that represent different levels of awareness. The veil of physicality, for example, represents the point where we stop seeing ourselves only in material terms and begin to recognise our deeper, spiritual essence. In life planning, crossing these “veils” means moving past a purely materialistic outlook to embrace a fuller understanding of who we are and what we want in life. By lifting these veils, we uncover layers of meaning that help us make truly fulfilling life choices.

Q: How does life planning address well-being?

A: Life planning is centred on well-being in a comprehensive way. It looks at what will bring satisfaction and balance across all areas of life—mind, body, heart, and spirit—rather than just achieving financial milestones. In exploring your life holistically, life planning helps you create a pathway to well-being that’s tailored to who you are and what truly matters to you.

Q: What if I only want to talk about my finances?

A: If your main focus is on finances alone, without exploring the life those finances are meant to support, then traditional financial planning might be more suited to your needs. Life planning, on the other hand, prioritises understanding your goals, dreams, and well-being first and builds a financial plan around that. If you’re open to that deeper exploration, life planning could be a profoundly enriching journey. But if the interest lies solely in monetary goals, it’s okay to seek out a more conventional financial approach.

Q: How can life planning help me “know myself”?

A: Life planning encourages you to explore beyond day-to-day concerns and ask bigger questions about what you truly value and want in life. By lifting the veils of physicality and looking beyond material needs, you gain clarity on your true self, your goals, and your purpose. This process fosters self-awareness and helps you make life decisions that genuinely align with who you are. In essence, it’s a pathway to “knowing yourself” and designing a life that reflects that deeper understanding.

Q: What’s the benefit of crossing these veils, like the veil of physicality or the Abyss?

A: Crossing these veils helps us to see beyond immediate, tangible goals and connect with a deeper sense of purpose. It’s about recognising ourselves as more than our achievements, possessions, or social roles. Each veil lifted is a step closer to understanding our true potential, our connection to something larger, and a richer life experience. Life planning aligns with this journey, helping you create a life that resonates with your soul’s aspirations, not just your financial goals.

Q: What does it mean to seek well-being “across mind, body, heart, and spirit”?

A: Seeking well-being across these areas means looking at all aspects of life, not just financial or material goals. For instance, mental well-being might involve intellectual growth or mindfulness, while physical well-being relates to health and vitality. The heart aspect could mean relationships and emotional fulfilment, and spirit may encompass your sense of purpose or connection to something greater. Life planning addresses these layers, enabling you to cultivate a balanced and meaningful life.

Q: How do I know if life planning is right for me?

A: Life planning is for those who feel ready to explore a deeper sense of purpose and are open to aligning their finances with that journey. If you’re curious about what truly fulfils you and want to build a life centred on your core values, life planning could be a valuable process. However, if your main priority is strictly financial, a more conventional financial planning approach might feel like a better fit. Life planning is most impactful for those prepared to look within and ask, “What does a fulfilling life look like for me?”

Q: What if I’m interested in life planning but am unsure about the “spiritual” aspect?

A: That’s completely natural. Life planning meets you where you are. The “spiritual” aspect can be as simple as understanding what brings you joy, peace, or a sense of purpose. It doesn’t require any specific belief system—it’s more about discovering what’s meaningful to you and creating a life that supports that. The process is designed to be inclusive and adaptable, allowing you to define spirituality in a way that resonates personally.

These Q&As help clarify the essence and purpose of life planning, guiding potential clients to understand whether this approach aligns with their journey. Life planning is for the seeker who is ready to look beyond immediate material goals and build a life that honours their whole self.