Ring of FIRE Story #1: From Security to Meaning: My Unplanned Leap into Freedom

I followed the well-worn path. Engineering. Management studies. A secure job in a public sector bank for over a decade. My parents, too, retired from government service. Stability and structure were the norms I grew up with—and I never questioned them. Life was proceeding as it “should.”

Then came 2019.

My mother, retired and excited about a long-awaited pilgrimage, suffered a brain stroke during the trip. That single event shook me more deeply than anything before. We often postpone our joys, our interests, our passions—waiting for retirement, waiting for the “right” time. But what if that time never comes? What if our best health, energy, or even clarity is behind us by then?

As I watched her struggle through recovery, the illusion of control began to dissolve. I started asking difficult questions: What am I chasing? And is it worth it? What if everything I’m putting off for “later” is simply never meant to happen?

Something in me shifted. Without a detailed plan, without a financial cushion meticulously prepared for such a move, I resigned from my job. Most people wait to quit until they have “figured it out.” I hadn’t. All I knew was that I needed to be more present for my family—and that I needed to seek something deeper, something more meaningful.

Fortunately, I do not have any debts to haunt me, and I have some savings that allow me to glide tension-free for the next few years. That gave me the mental space to explore what truly matters to me.

The journey since then hasn’t been linear or predictable. I explored various interests and found myself increasingly drawn towards spirituality. I met my Guru, read deeply, attended satsangs, and began to reconnect with parts of myself I didn’t even know were missing.

Unexpectedly, I started writing. At first, it was just an outlet. Then it became a passion. Today, I have ten books to my name—written in both Hindi and English—on themes that matter to me, and hopefully, to others as well. I don’t know whether these books will ever be commercially successful. That’s not the goal. If even one reader finds meaning or reflection in my words, I consider my purpose fulfilled.

FIRE, for me, isn’t about early retirement in the usual sense. It’s about reclaiming my time and life. It’s about shifting the proportion of work done for money versus work done for the soul. I may not have a formal financial plan or a passive income strategy mapped to decimal points—but I do have time, presence, and freedom. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

My story isn’t a blueprint—it’s just one example. And maybe, for someone out there reading this, it’ll serve as a gentle nudge. To not wait for the perfect time. To not postpone life for some mythical future. To take one step—just one—towards something more true.

About the Author

Naveen Goyal is a seeker and writer dedicated to making yogic wisdom accessible and relevant for modern spiritual explorers.