What happens when you stop chasing financial independence as just a number—and start using mindfulness, envisioning, and self-awareness to build a life around family, freedom, and impact?
In this episode, Adam Coelho talks with Nic Ferry about using envisioning practices to move from workaholic patterns toward Mindful FI, medicine abroad, and a more intentional life.
Get clear on your post-FI vision with my free envisioning exercise: http://mindfulfire.org/start
## Key takeaways
- Why envisioning felt “woo-woo” at first—and what helped Nic see that it actually works
- How getting clear on what he wanted helped Nic find the right home for his family during a difficult housing market
- The difference between manifestation and using mindfulness to prime your brain to notice real opportunities
- Why many people on the path to financial independence never stop to ask, “What is it for?”
- How Nic shifted from measuring worth through overwork and external recognition to valuing family, presence, and patient impact
- The mindset affirmation that helped him practice being fully at work when he’s at work—and fully at home when he’s at home
- How a vision for low-resource medicine led to mentorship, daily practice, and an opportunity to teach abroad in Vietnam
- Why financial independence doesn’t have to mean saving as aggressively as possible
- How Slow FI, Coast FI, and Mindful FI can support a life built around values rather than just the biggest paycheck
- Nic’s advice for anyone pursuing FI: invest in yourself and figure out what you’re actually moving toward
## Chapters
00:00 Welcome to the first in-studio Mindful FIRE interview
00:28 What surprised Nic most about envisioning
01:09 How envisioning helped Nic find the right house
03:41 Envisioning vs. manifestation
04:57 Mindfulness, self-awareness, and choosing a new story
06:00 Asking what financial independence is really for
10:51 From workaholic identity to family-centered values
16:36 Mindset affirmations and being present at home
18:37 Adam’s own “gap and gain” reflection
20:35 How the mindset affirmations practice works
24:22 Thinking bigger about what you actually want
26:31 Rethinking the goal of becoming chief resident
29:23 Medicine abroad and planting seeds for opportunity
31:34 Practicing low-resource medicine in daily life
32:51 Discovering obstetric anesthesia and new fellowships
34:55 Nic’s approach to financial independence
38:14 Looking back on the FIRE Starter coaching program
41:12 Advice for someone considering coaching
45:45 Ask What’s Possible workshop
47:09 The Mindful FIRE Final Four
47:26 Nic’s five-year vision
49:38 Advice for someone early on the path to FI
50:13 Advice for getting started with meditation
50:35 Where to connect with Nic
## Resources mentioned
- FI Life Jumpstart: http://mindfulfire.org/start
- Ask What’s Possible workshop: http://mindfulfire.org/workshop
- The Alchemist: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-alchemist-paulo-coelho
- The Gap and The Gain: https://gapandgainbook.com/
- The Simple Path to Wealth: https://thesimplepathtowealth.com/
- The White Coat Investor: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/
- ChooseFI: https://choosefi.com/listen
## About the show
The Mindful FIRE podcast is a show about crafting a life you love and making work optional using mindfulness, financial independence, resilience and envisioning.
