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Comments

Eric Willson

Hi Kent. I always enjoy reading your posts. As a middle-aged man with a family and all of the responsibilities that come with that, I've struggled for years with this. I find it impossible to choose between money and fulfillment at work. Money always wins out; I have not been able to step off the edge and stop living for money in hopes that money will follow what I think is meaningful. I know what I don't want to do; I can't answer the question of what do I want to do and still make enough money to satisfy my needs and obligations.

I recently found an enjoyable book by Dorothea Brande written in the 30's called "Wake Up and Live". She quotes Marcus Aurelius who said "stop acting like you're going to live 1000 years." It's a riveting read with practical recommendations. It is available here http://www.scribd.com/doc/4710154/Dorothea-Brande-Wake-Up-and-Live

Kent @ The Financial Philosopher

Hey Eric. It's nice to hear from you.

As a "family man" you already have meaning and purpose in your life!

It is possible to be fulfilled even if your "day job" is not meaningful. Your focus then becomes one of finding the right balance between work and life.

Furthermore, meaning does not put food on the table. It sounds as if your process of discovery (finding what you want by clarifying what you don't want) is what works best for you now.

If you focus too hard on what you are missing, you may end up missing what is happening now. The search for meaning can sometimes paradoxically cause you to miss meaning that is right in front of you.

Just be sure to enjoy the journey...

"What is important in life is life, and not the result of life." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Greg Linster

Excellent post Kent! I absolutely love your quote, "Most people tend to go through life in a self-created prison." Unfortunately I don't think most people ever escape. It sounds like your father-in-law spent his life "livin" outside of a self-imposed prison.

My condolences go out to you and your family.

-Greg

Kent @ The Financial Philosopher

Thanks Greg...

GreerMerle

Houses are not cheap and not every person can buy it. However, business loans are invented to aid people in such kind of situations.

True Religion Outlet

Now that it's quiet, it feels good. Both Ed and I can feel the tired seeping out of our bones. It may take the rest of this day for the seeping process to complete itself. Moving is lots of work. However, we approached this packing stuff the same way we approach every dream and project: tail over tea-kettle...in other words, dive in head first and don't look back, or come up for air, until we're done...

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About Kent Thune


  • Kent Thune is a wealth manager, a writer and a philosopher... Read More

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