Should you work towards your goals?

simplisticallysimple · 2019-12-13T10:35:49+00:00

Unfortunately it's impossible to relax without first working hard to create the conditions that would enable you to relax, i.e. being independently wealthy or at least have enough passive income to never need to work again.

Otherwise you still have to work, and work hard enough to not get fired, and if you're not smart about it you could even be out of work once the automation wave hits big time.

So you don't have a choice. Either work hard to create something that'll rescue you from perpetual employment, or work hard your entire life anyway making a meager living while enriching someone else.

SkidNutz · 2019-12-13T11:04:54+00:00

Everyone's path is different so it's hard to give a complete answer to this question. As for me, I'm of the opinion that the exchange of a non renewable resource (our time) for paper money, that's only worth what they say it is, is never really worth it. That being said, it's good to have goals to work towards. Those goals don't have to be material things. For me I love to play guitar and study things like math and science in my spare time because these things interest me and help me to better understand the world around me. In the end, no one knows how much time they have, and when your numbers up that's it. There is nothing that can be exchanged for more time. Spend it in a way that will allow you not to live in regret.

qoning · 2019-12-13T10:52:21+00:00

First, you have to define your goals. Sounds to me like you have dreams rather than goals, most people won't pursue dreams because it's inconvenient, but having goals is important, otherwise you are stuck.

It can be very hard to define your goals, it's possible you don't have any.

WildChad · 2019-12-13T11:18:27+00:00

Who said taking it easy and owning your own time cannot be a goal?

30203forever · 2019-12-13T15:11:15+00:00

In other words, you have no ambition. I understand exactly what you mean because I'm the same way. I got a service job in private industry paying $50K and now retiring at the age 50 next year after 20 years at the same place:

/r/leanfire/comments/drz15w/update_on_my_post_made_four_months_ago/

You can get some government or better still a union (i.e. tradesman) job which pays more, control your expenses while investing the surplus into some Target Date fund so you'll be able to retire in less than 20 years:

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/

CropCircle77 · 2019-12-13T15:51:43+00:00

A goal is something you want to achieve. You put effort to achieve said goal.

If you are not willing to put effort toward said thing, it is not your goal.

Edit:

Do you know what your goal is?

If its like, have an easy life without much responsibility? Then by all means, go for it.

Nothing wrong with that.

Define the prerequisites and work towards meeting them.

CarlCarlton · 2019-12-13T18:06:03+00:00

You need to have goals that you care about. There will be hardships along the way, and ultimately, it's the journey that counts the most. If you don't find fulfillment in the highs and lows of that journey, then it's probably the wrong goal.

For instance, my ultimate goal in life is to build a 15-ft mecha. Not just an art piece, I wanna go full Boston Dynamics on that thing. It has been my dream since I was 8. It takes an insane amount of learning and effort to achieve that goal, and I am willingly arranging my entire future life around it.

I decided to go MGTOW not because of bad experiences with women, but because I don't want romantic pursuits to steal precious time and money away from achieving that goal, or in other words to increase my focus.

You must find what you think is worth fighting for.

transcis · 2019-12-13T14:57:36+00:00

If you discard goals because they are not worth the effort, do you then choose different goals that require less effort?

poison-fang-blade · 2019-12-13T15:45:02+00:00

I don’t enjoy hard work.

In my case it's sort of "worse", I think...I simply don't like to have to work. It's either work or starving and also not being able to afford the things I like, so I don't feel like I have a choice. No matter what you put me to do, if my living depends on it, I will either dislike it or get bored of it after a couple months.

it’s just that I prefer living without any responsibilities. I like to sit back and relax with a good movie, book or videogame

It's the good old working to live, not living to work, and I agree.

whenever I set a goal for my life, I ask myself if it’s worth the trouble, unless it involves doing something that I already enjoy doing.

Whenever I see a friend being much more successful (career, money, moving to a better country, etc) than me, I start feeling a bit of envy but then I ask myself if I'm willing to put in the same time and effort he did to be where he is. More often than not the answer is "eh, hell no" hahahaha

About having goals, I don't think I have any long term ones. I just live my life and while it could be better, it's not bad. I can live by myself, spend some money with things I like and save some money every month and I also have plenty of savings in case of emergency.

Setari · 2019-12-13T18:40:07+00:00

Top comment = work hard or get lost

Everyone else = just do what you want to man

Geezus. I'm of the mind that life has it's twists and turns and is never a straight path, so you may as well take your time getting to your goals.

deepspace7 · 2019-12-13T20:57:38+00:00

I think your goal is to have a stress free relaxing life. You identified some aspects of this goal which include watching movies, playing video games, etc. Now you have to figure out how much of this you need in your life, and what else you want to do with your time.

Goals are essentially tools that we use to construct a meaningful life. We know we are living a meaningful life, when we try to work towards our goals.

Brandwein · 2019-12-14T16:16:33+00:00

I'm with ya. I live a pretty hedonistic + minimalistic life minus sex and drugs.

Lazy is my lifestyle. If i have a task, i will do it as good but also as quickly as i can to go back to free time. I am perfectly content like that. There are no large goals, only tasks that i need to do before going back to blissfull free time.

I simply don't need to do more if there are no societal expectations pressuring me. The need to perform to achieve semi-luxury as a bachelor single is pretty minimal in my view.

If you have a dream, go for it. For me my dream is already fulfilled by living in everyday bliss. Only other thing to do while working is fulfill my self worth.

lolklolkgf · 2019-12-16T19:26:25+00:00

Whatever you're doing now is the right thing to do until you decide the time is right to pursue something else. It's that simple. The world is too complicated to think you have true power over the course of your life. The truth is...your genetic makeup plays a big part in realising that which you seek. Trust the truth within yourself.

Yami-no-Kami · 2019-12-21T00:19:25+00:00

I have to say that I'd feel like an empty shell without having a goal and trying to reach it and can't imagine living without having such a thing. But that's probably because my biggest goal so far determined my whole life and every mile I walked towards my goal build up my confidence and self worth.

You have to know, that I'm an autist and my goal is to become an independent, functioning member of this society and be able to live my life however I want to.

But you're right. I wouldn't waist my energy and time on things that have no benefit at all. Life is too short to focus on things that have no additional value.

2019-12-13T11:57:37+00:00

I feel the same but now I am changing myself. I am setting myself goals that mean I don't completely sell my soul and live a miserable existence.

Learn something in computers.
Work from home.
Cabin in my home country.
House in rural Spain.
Save save save, live below my means.
Have enough money for retirement and healthcare for when I'm older.

SUEDE2BLACK · 2019-12-14T05:13:04+00:00

It depends on the type of life you want.I want a life of leisure and abundance.I want to drive the cars I like and live in the place I like..

If your satisfied living in a 200sqft apartment in the ghetto taking the bus or driving a corolla then making minimum wage at a dead end job is ok for you.

Another thing to consider is that money is security.If your stocking shelves making $7/hr and don't make even make enough to save money,what happens when you get sick or old.

A good income gives you future safety net.I make enough to pad my 401k and IRA and have other side investements.If I get sick I can afford decent medical care and if I can't work I have insurance and savings that will cover me.When I'm old and can't do the grind my retirements will kick in including pension.

While your young you have to grind.Theres no end because as long as your alive you will be a consumer which cost money at the things you consume go up in cost so you have to continuasly make money.

The people who give up are the dirt poor people begging for everything living paycheck to pay check that go days without eating or rely on handouts.Ive met people that haven't paid a utility bill in years,that can only afford to by store brand food.

I visited someone for thanksgiving and we did some shopping and I picked up some cans off ocean spray cranberry sauce,they told me put that back and get the store brand it's cheaper.In fact In the cart everything was storebrand even the whipped cream.

These people only fill up their gas tank $5 at a time all their clothes come from wallmart.They never answer the phone because it's a bill collector.There cars have 200k miles on them.Their house needs everything repaired.They only order chest pizzas because toppings ate too expensive.

Consider this if your just getting buy and renting what happens when your rent goes up.If your a home owner what happens when your taxes go up or you need a repair.I have baught cars off of people that needed to sell because they couldn't afford the $500-$1000 to repair them.

In summary you should figure out what your goal is and work toward it.My goal is final freedom I want to make enough money that I don't have to work but all my bills are paid and I have surplus income to save, invest and buy the things I like.I never want to eat store brand ,or wear anything from wallmart.

SUEDE2BLACK · 2019-12-14T05:13:49+00:00