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Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

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311–320 of 329 posts

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#311

The people telling you to try stuff NOW, rather than later: 100%. Do not think "when I'm retired, I'll have time for this." I'd always felt bad that I didn't practice and become a great guitar player in my teens and play in bands, like the guys I admired (and let's not even talk about the famous rock stars). So around age 40 I started singing, and then I took piano lessons. I got to be in choruses in some operas and…

Just a note, travel is pretty great now once you’re past the airline bullshit. I’ve been traveling for the last month through parts of Italy and Eastern Europe, all restrictions have been lifted and things aren’t as crowded as pre covid.

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#314

The people telling you to try stuff NOW, rather than later: 100%. Do not think "when I'm retired, I'll have time for this." I'd always felt bad that I didn't practice and become a great guitar player in my teens and play in bands, like the guys I admired (and let's not even talk about the famous rock stars). So around age 40 I started singing, and then I took piano lessons. I got to be in choruses in some operas and…

Just a note, travel is pretty great now once you’re past the airline bullshit. I’ve been traveling for the last month through parts of Italy and Eastern Europe, all restrictions have been lifted and things aren’t as crowded as pre covid.

Good to know.

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#315
I'm not sure how to "settle and slow down and become happy with the way it is without always wanting more". I've found that for me evolution is a necessary constraint for my happiness. If I'm just doing the same thing over and over and don't feel like I'm progressing towards anything meaningful, then I'm probably bored and unhappy. On the other hand if I'm working towards something I care about, then even if the work is grueling and tedious, I'm happier because I'm making progress towards some purpose.

I'm going to guess you don't derive much fulfillment from your work. There is nothing unique about this. I'd guess that this is the case for most workers, and don't think it has much correlation with pay beyond the minimal amount you need to not be stressed about survival. Maybe a radical view, but I'd even go as far as to say that it is hard for many if not most people to derive any deep sense of fulfillment as a wage laborer (aka. "wagie") reporting to a "boss" because you never have any real equity/ownership or autonomy over your work under such an arrangement. True fulfillment and pleasure in work I believe comes from working purely on your own free will, and not selling your time for a wage.

I was similarly recently working a remote job making good money with great work/life balance and little meetings that at least in the beginning was fulfilling, but at some point the lack of any real ownership over the work and equity made it feel more like clocking in at a factory.

Now I'm unemployed living off savings working on my own project(s) which I've wanted to work on for years, and am way happier with my work than I've been since I can remember (though admittedly am only 1.5 months in so still honeymoon phase). Actually all my happiest work periods in life were all after leaving a job to work on my own projects/interests that I'd been putting off or time constrained due to the day job.

I'm not telling you to quit your job. Just that work fulfillment does not come from money or climbing up the career ladder, it comes from doing things that feel meaningful to you - and chances are that nobody's going to hire you in some traditional job and pay you money to do exactly what you find meaningful unless you're the type who finds the work in traditional jobs meaningful (if this were the case then I imagine you wouldn't have written this post though).

It's easy to tell ourselves we should be happy and grateful because of our six figure salaries and good work-life balance, when in reality many of us have given up and even forgotten about our real passions in life, golden handcuffed so long we forgot those handcuffs are still there. The longer one lives like this, suppressing their true desires in life, the more they forget about their own desires, and become a hollow unhappy shell of who they used to be, filling the void with empty addictions like consumerism and hedonism.

If you feel unfulfilled in work, then find something you're actually genuinely passionate about working on ("my job is technically interesting, and I still learn/improve" is better than nothing, but sounds more like rationalization than real passion). Your motivation should not be making money (or you will burn out), but building something you're passionate about that adds value to the world. Of course monetization matters to make something sustainable, but monetization should not be the primary goal, otherwise you will lose interest and feel unfulfilled because money for money's sake is really not that interesting.

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> I have a house, a good relationship with my wife, and young and healthy kids. > why not try solo travel in a remote region? South America and places in Southeast Asia can be really fun to do alone. Sounds like the risky solo intercontinental travel portion of this guy's life has elapsed. Doing this when you're single and 25 is adventurous. Doing this when you're married with kids and a homeowner is a midlife crisi…

I can't delete my comment anymore but you are correct, I made a mistake. I never finished reading the first sentence and assumed the person was living alone.

Ah— that makes more sense.

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#317

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you tell to the chronically ill?

Not to worry, the hedonic treadmill means they'll be just as happy as everyone else! (right?)

No, according to the hedonic treadmill theory, people in general have a tendency to return to their own previous happiness level. The hedonic threadmill doesn't say anyting about comparing happiness levels across individuals.

So how should we treat chronically ill people? As I have some in my circles, and would actually appreciate insight.

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#318
post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that, if one asks this question to often, then it's a sign of depression. Non-depressed people don't worry about such issues.

I have been told this before, by a therapist. The problem is, the first time I asked this question (the first known time at least) I was 6 years old. It's recorded on home video. I've always wondered, if "god" made us, then who made "god"? And why? What am I doing here? Work, eat, sex, get old, get sick, die?

[deleted]

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have two thoughts on this, though I think the distinction between legacy and purpose is ultimately pretty thing. 1) Why does your existence need a "point"? Is the need to define such a thing coming from something innate, or is it a reaction to the world and expectations around you? 2) Define your own purpose, that's all anyone has ever done. There is nothing inherent. You almost certainly can't go wrong by giving y…

Regarding (1) ... There's also a somewhat therapeutic thought pattern that goes something like this: Would I even want to live in a world where someone, or some thing, has pre-determined my purpose? ... I think it's relatively easy to say 'eek! No!' So then, define your own purpose (2)! Ok... I can do that. My purpose in life is to just get through it, not give up, and try when possible to improve the lives of others…

> My purpose in life is to just get through it, not give up, and try when possible to improve the lives of others, especially children and young adults.

I personally think their is beauty in simplicity, including in this purpose. Though I'd perhaps maybe add something around "finding some joy" beyond "just getting through it", but that is coming from my own values/worldview, not from any sort of informed wisdom.

Re: Tell HN: I have the perfect job, why is it not enough?

#320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> * It is a cliche, but kids are only young once. Enjoy that time. I don't know if I'm wired differently, but my oldest kid is in HS and my youngest is halfway through elementary school, and while I didn't hate the time I spent with my kids, I don't feel like I derived a whole lot of personal enjoyment out of it. I still would make the same decision -- feeling loved and cared for rather than abandoned is a great gift…

It's one of those things that pays out over time, and 20 years from now because you invested your time in your children you'll be able to enjoy them and grandchildren much more than anything else you could've done. As a good quote I heard once said "No success can compensate for failure in the home" jobs come and go, achievements are eventually forgotten, and wealth doesn't last forever, but your family will be prett…

> but your family will be pretty constant

No? There's divorces and death and all kinds of bad things...

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