by Liam O’Riordan – Investwise Financial Planning
We often hear the phrase “life is not a rehearsal,” but how often do we truly stop to reflect on its meaning? Life is fleeting, unpredictable, and precious. Yet, many of us live as though there will always be another chance, another opportunity to do the things we desire.
As financial planners, we have seen firsthand how people put off their dreams, goals, and relationships in favour of routines, distractions, and the comfort of “someday.” Likewise, when it comes to your financial life, adopting a mindset of delay can be costly—both financially and emotionally.
The truth is, we only get one shot at this, and waiting for the “perfect time” can lead to missed opportunities and regret. Life is not a rehearsal, and the sooner we embrace that, the more intentional and fulfilling our lives will become.
The clock keeps ticking
One of the most common misconceptions people have is the belief that there is always more time. We often defer our dreams and actions, thinking that we’ll get around to them later. “I’ll travel when I retire,” “I’ll work less when the kids are grown up,” “I’ll start properly funding my pension next year.” These thoughts create a dangerous illusion that time is limitless, when in reality, it’s slipping through our fingers every day. We’ve seen this over the years with a client, Mary.
She had always dreamed of opening her own bakery but was stuck in a legal job she didn’t enjoy. She kept telling herself that she’d quit and follow her passion “when the time was right.” But that time never came. When her father passed away unexpectedly, she was jolted into the realisation that life isn’t something to put off. Thankfully, she finally took the leap, but only after years of feeling unfulfilled. Of course, now she wonders why she didn’t do it years ago…
The lesson here is clear: We don’t have an endless supply of tomorrows. If we continue to delay pursuing our true desires, we risk never getting around to them at all. The time to act is now.
Live with purpose
If life isn’t a rehearsal, then every day matters. That doesn’t mean we need to live with a constant sense of urgency, but rather with intention. Living with purpose means aligning our actions with our values, goals, and the life we envision for ourselves. It means making choices today, and these include financial choices that will bring us closer to the life we want to lead, rather than deferring our happiness and satisfaction to some vague future.
It’s an important part of our job to help you align your financial plan with this life of intent. This might mean some decisions to be taken, to ensure you start living with purpose – from today.
Prioritise what truly matters
One of the key aspects of embracing the fact that life is not a rehearsal is learning how to prioritise. Not everything can be important at the same time, and part of living intentionally is making choices about where to direct your energy, and your money.
Family, health, personal growth, meaningful work and wise financial management —these are areas that, when prioritised, lead to a life of fulfilment. Unfortunately, many people get caught up in distractions: social media, chasing material possessions, or living for others’ approval. By the time they realise what truly matters, it’s often too late.
Take a moment to reflect on your own life: What are the most important things to you? Are you dedicating enough time and energy to those areas? If not, what changes can you make today to shift your focus toward the things that will bring lasting joy and satisfaction?
Make conscious decisions and actions that enable you to live the life that you want to live.
Overcome the fear of failure
One reason people delay pursuing their dreams is the fear of failure. They think, “What if I try and don’t succeed? What if I make a mistake?” But here’s the truth: You will make mistakes. You will experience setbacks.
Living as though life is not a rehearsal means embracing the possibility of failure as part of the process. Whether it’s starting a business, learning a new skill, or fostering deeper relationships, failure is often a stepping stone to growth. By acting now, despite the risk of things not going perfectly, you set yourself up for the greatest success of all — living a life without regret. Waiting on the sideline because of fear won’t protect you from failure. In fact, it will only guarantee that you never get the chance to succeed.
Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to start living your life. Start now — because life isn’t a rehearsal, and every moment counts.
