What If…?

“Time, space, reality … it’s more than a linear path. It’s a prism of endless possibility, where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities, creating alternate worlds from the ones you know. I am the Watcher. I am your guide through these vast new realities. Follow me and ponder the question, ‘What if?’

The Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright, narrates each episode of Marvel’s new animated anthology series, What If…?, and begins every story with this Twilight Zone–style introduction. 

I am a huge Marvel Fan. And if you are like me, who have followed the conclusion of the Marvel Series ‘Loki’, you will have known that the MCU’s Sacred Timeline is broken, and it is now allowing a new multiverse of alternate timelines and realities to fill the void.

As we ponder about the possibilities of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have we considered ourselves about these ‘What If’ scenarios in life?

What If We Are Promoted To Heaven Earlier Than We Expect

Let me address the elephant in the room first.

Death is a taboo topic in Singapore and in many other countries. This question is usually not discussed publicly because of its sensitive nature, but it's something that’s always on people's minds.

It's a natural human reaction to avoid thinking about death, but it's also important to know what will happen if we die early.

For those who have lost a loved one, it can be a very tiring time. It takes a lot of strength and courage to get back up again. Coping with the loss of someone who was special to us is no easy task, but there are ways that we can help ourselves in this difficult time. It is important that we seek out the support from friends and family members near and far, as well as professional help from counselors or therapists. It is also essential to remember that while grieving the loss of our loved one, we should still take care of ourselves. We need to make sure that we are eating properly, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of sleep at night.

Check out my previous article on ‘Till Death Do Us Part’, which is dedicated to the living, and to those who have lost their loved ones. 

The truth is that we will never know when we will die. But what if we die before we have time to accomplish our goals? What if the world ends before we have children?

There are financial implications of dying early. Besides the expenses associated with death including funeral services, cremation or burial, there are also other bills to be paid for and the loss of income. Our spouse and children will be left with the financial burden of taking care of themselves. This is especially true if we are the sole breadwinner in the family. Our spouse will have to work to put bread on the table. And if our children are still young, who will look after them?

It is emotionally devastating enough. Do not let financial burdens add to the stress.

What If We Are Met With An Accident

Accidents like the Tanjong Pagar Car Accident do happen. Sometimes we may be cautious, but the other person may be reckless, and we just happen to get caught in the middle.

It can be a major or minor incident and either way, there are many factors that could affect your life.

If it was a major accident, then our lives could change drastically. We may be partially or totally disabled, leading us to not being able to work temporarily or permanently. There is also the cost of treatment and surgery, and we have to go for rehabilitation services like physiotherapy and occupational therapy so that we can optimize functioning and reduce disability. Our home may need to be modified like putting up grab bars in bathrooms and kitchens, adding ramps inside and outside of the house, installing handrails on stairs, etc so we can move around more easily. All the additional costs can accumulate and add to the financial burden of the family.

If it was a minor accident, then the only thing that may impact us is the time. We may visit a general practitioner or a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician and miss work for a few days.

What If We Suffer From A Critical Illness

We all like to think we will be around to enjoy the fruits of our labors. But what if we are not so lucky? What if a medical condition totally incapacitates us?

Check out ‘The Important Statistics About Cancer’ and ‘Changes To Critical Illness’ to understand more about the dreaded disease.

If we were to suffer from a critical illness, such as cancer or stroke, our life would be drastically different. For instance, if we had cancer and could no longer work then our family would not have an income and we would not be able to afford our current lifestyle. If we were to suffer from a heart attack or stroke, we might be in need of constant care. Then the financial burden on my family members would be too much to handle.

It is hard to imagine suffering from one of the illnesses and it would be hard to deal with. We might have to spend a lot of time in the hospital or go through chemotherapy treatments. It is important that we are financially prepared for this because it can be expensive. It is also important that our family and friends know what to do so they can help us out when needed.

What If We Decide To Change Our Career

Are you looking for the next step in your life? It is not always easy to find it or be sure that you are making the right decision. You need to keep in mind that every path has its own pros and cons, but at the end of the day, it is your decision and you should be happy with it.

It is hard to decide what will make us happy when we are in a stable job, but there are some things that can help us decide. For example, if we feel like we have reached our maximum potential at our current company, it might be time for a change. If this realization comes during an economic downturn or when our industry faces trouble, these changes could happen more easily than they would during periods of stability.

People who want to switch their careers in the middle of their professional life should take a few precautions. Firstly, they need to identify the factors that caused them to make a career shift. Secondly, they need to remember that it may happen again and plan accordingly. And thirdly, people who are going through this process should not think about themselves as a failure but instead as someone who is brave enough to try something new.

The fear of starting over will be strong but there are many things that can be done to make it easier on yourself. The first thing is acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses which helps you see your potential for change. The second thing is figuring out how much time you have for the new career change which will help you focus on the things that need more attention.

What If We Want To Go On Sabbatical Leave

Are you sick of work?

Thinking of taking time off?

If you have been in the same company or role for some time now, the thought of going on a sabbatical or long term break has probably crossed your mind. We all deserve a break and take time off from work, school, and our everyday life. It is an opportunity for us to refresh and recharge.

There are also people who have lost their passion for work and they want to go on a long leave. However, this is just an escape from reality. Instead of running away and escaping, they should try to look for ways to make their work more interesting and enjoyable.

If we want to go on sabbatical leave, we should know that there may be no pay and we may not be able to come back once the break is over. Therefore, it's better if we can have a discussion with our company and have a back up plan in place.

What If We Have To Stop Working Involuntarily

Imagine this: You are caught in this unexpected situation. No work. No pay. Your income stops but your expenses continue. How long can your funds last?

This is what happened to many people when the pandemic hit. Many companies are forced to close down. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to put a severe strain on the Singapore economy, more businesses could see a cessation. Even long-standing restaurants like Red Star Restaurant and Lai Wah Restaurant are forced to contemplate their fate. Singapore’s unemployment rates also rose due to the tightened Covid-19 curbs.

Getting laid off from your job is not an easy experience to swallow. But with the current climate of the coronavirus affecting almost all industries, it is inevitable that some of us will end up getting pay cuts, or worse, face sudden unemployment.

If you are retrenched or fired, you might be confused and clueless about what your next step will be. Do not let this set you back; rather, use this as a wake-up call to take some time to think about your future and decide what is next in your professional life. Keep an open mind to any opportunities that come your way.

What If We Have A Sudden Windfall

When you receive a sudden windfall of money from an inheritance, a legal settlement, winnings or as a gift, you may be wondering about the best plan of action for your money. This extra cash is an opportunity for you to improve your financial situation, but many people fritter away the money because they do not have a specific plan to preserve it.

If you have the good fortune to find yourself in this situation, there are several steps you can take to make the money last and set yourself up for a potential early retirement while still having a little extra fun along the way with your newfound wealth. Take the time to invest in your future and make sure all your financial needs are being met.

What If We Could Turn Back Time

What would you do differently if you could do it all over again? Would you keep the same job? Would you marry the person you are with now? Would you live in the same house? Would you travel more? Less? Do something different?

When we look back at our lives and see all the things we should have done, all the opportunities we let slip by, and all the chances we didn’t take, inevitably there will be some regrets in life. Regret in life may be inevitable but there is no need to dwell on it. When we think about doing things differently, we often focus on the negative aspects. But often, we simply have to re-focus on what we already have.

We cannot go back in time, but we can learn from past mistakes. Make a list of your recent successes. What worked well? What didn’t work so well? Next, think about what you could do better. What would be different if you could go back and do it again? Write down ideas that pop into your head. Then, take a break and come back to this list. When you are done, take a break and come back to this list. Keep going. Keep taking breaks. Don’t stop until this list is complete.

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

There are many scenarios that might happen in the future, and it's best to be prepared for all of them.

With GoalsMapper, you can plot in the various scenarios, and we can plan together to reach your goals realistically.

Check out the now.