Wow. You totally had me at "I’m always trying to think of ways to cut through the negative noise in my own head, things like—excuses, defense mechanisms, comforting lies, fears, past trauma, victimhood mentality, etc. These things always stand between where we are and where we want to be." This is like the monologue of my internal process almost to the T.

I find concepts like reincarnation, extra terrestrial life, living in a simulation and the like entertaining but try to stop it at that. Pausing reality for a break of thoughtfulness is one thing but too much of that drains my will to face reality and do what needs to be done for my family, friends, and community.

That being said, I too dream of the cottage beside the water and a simpler yet productive end of life. Seeing that I am immortal, that seems like the horizon that never arrives as I concentrate on building a business and supporting a family. ;)

Pondering the next life is a wonderful exercise even how I frame it as it is never too late to start something and those objectives can drive change right now so we attain some of those benefits in this life.

Let's do this!