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Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

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Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#131

Post by a9h74j »

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #59

These kinds of discussions remind of this passage from Mere Christianity by CS Lewis: Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in lov…

Downvoted because one author has a particular way of symbolizing or relating trancendence? IIRC Hinduism devotes an entire quarter-life stage to time for such focus.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#132

Post by fleddr »

A great way to spontaneously trigger a midlife crisis, no matter your age, is to watch Youtube videos about the universe, the origin of life, etc.

You'll get this inspirational rush of how amazing everything is, how vast the universe, how incredibly unusual for life to exist and for us specifically as a species to exist. And the advanced state we're in, able to do almost anything.

And then you realize that you're using this incredible and very temporary opportunity to sit in a chair for most of your waking hours, for decades in a row.

You're not exploring anything, you're not celebrating life, not producing any meaning. You just sit there, like a robot, pissing it all away. Not depressing enough? Your existence is actually the top 10% of humanity.

Anyway, have a great day.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#133

Post by wahnfrieden »

ultramegachurch wrote: post #6
tayo42 wrote: post #3

I wonder if the "midlife" part of midlife crisis does some harm. Other then me not being in my midlife (well i hope lol, don't think i want to die at 60) a lot of those issue resonate. Shrinking of possibilities, empty feeling as i pursue things. Ive felt this way on and off since my 20s and have talked with friends about similar feelings.

Yeah, this hits home. I'm only 28 but can feel my life becoming more and more predictable and stagnate. At the same time, I'm too afraid and money-conscious to make any bold changes (e.g., quit my job, start a business, go back to school, live in a van for a year, do something weird with my life). This is an incredible source of anxiety and depression. I've started therapy and have made some progress. If I can become…

careful with therapy which ends with acceptance of wage labor (or other oppressive institutions which wind you back into wage labor), maybe think on that a bit given your skillset as an HN visitor

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#134

Post by yboris »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #102
yboris wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a whole (relatively new) empirical study of happiness, called Positive Psychology , that's been ongoing for decades. The claim I made is broad, so it's not based on one experiment, but on numerous factors that point in the same direction. We are social creatures, and feeling like we are a part of a greater whole makes people happier. In the recent book Happy Money , the authors, two Ph.D. researchers in the a…

Even if what you say is true, I don't think it necessarily follows that this would prevent or mitigate a mid-life crisis. There are after all many things that can cause unhappiness.

I am willing to bet there's a lot of variation in "midlife crisis". I glanced at Wikipedia to see, and one of the possible sources seems to be when people reflect and realize they have not accomplished much.

For all the things I've done that normal society considers "accomplishments" (learning to play piano, winning in competitive chess and sports, etc) none, I think, have been as good (for the world and long-term me) as the direct effects of my charitable donations to cost-effective charities. I'm 36 now, so maybe I'll have a midlife crisis in the future (I'm still young); even if I didn't have those accomplishment, I don't think I'll be able to wallow in "I've not accomplished much" when I know I prevented many many people from getting malaria (and all the negatives that accompany it).

So I'm pretty sure that "mitigate" can happen, even if not "prevent". And the phrase you use "necessarily follows" might mean you're being rather stringent, but that seems to me too-high a filter to accept good advice ;)

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#136

Post by wahnfrieden »

mbg721 wrote: post #19
tw600040 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty sure once you hit 2m it will then be 10m :)

Where's the savings sweet-spot at 35 for the security of not having to work anymore to avoid homelessness and hunger? $2M seems a little low, but not a million miles away.

At 35 I have somewhat limited liquid savings, but decided this year to just stop taking a wage and selling my time in totality. I’m quickly building up the passive income to survive/thrive through recurring subscription software. I’m surviving and I have complete control of my own time, and am figuring out how to work with others in ways that preserve that for them too (wouldn’t want to work with people entrapped in wage labor by my own control anyway). this feels much more certain and freeing than managing % returns on wage labor investment and “career”

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#137

Post by mikestew »

fleddr wrote: post #132

A great way to spontaneously trigger a midlife crisis, no matter your age, is to watch Youtube videos about the universe, the origin of life, etc. You'll get this inspirational rush of how amazing everything is, how vast the universe, how incredibly unusual for life to exist and for us specifically as a species to exist. And the advanced state we're in, able to do almost anything. And then you realize that you're usi…

And then you realize that you're using this incredible and very temporary opportunity to sit in a chair for most of your waking hours, for decades in a row.

Beats the hell out of scratching out a subsistence living. That ain't gonna afford me much of any opportunity other than scratching at the ground and hoping the locusts don't eat it. Anything beyond that, and we're just arguing about the degree of technology that we're comfortable with. That doesn't sound nearly as noble, I suppose, but I always thought Thoreau was kinda full of it anyway.

So you do you, but I'm smack in the middle of midlife, and I'm having no crisis at all.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#139

Post by jackstraw14 »

fleddr wrote: post #132

A great way to spontaneously trigger a midlife crisis, no matter your age, is to watch Youtube videos about the universe, the origin of life, etc. You'll get this inspirational rush of how amazing everything is, how vast the universe, how incredibly unusual for life to exist and for us specifically as a species to exist. And the advanced state we're in, able to do almost anything. And then you realize that you're usi…

> You're not exploring anything, you're not celebrating life, not producing any meaning. You just sit there, like a robot, pissing it all away.

Part of the journey is finding the path. Have fun :)

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#140

Post by fleddr »

mikestew wrote: post #137
fleddr wrote: post #132

A great way to spontaneously trigger a midlife crisis, no matter your age, is to watch Youtube videos about the universe, the origin of life, etc. You'll get this inspirational rush of how amazing everything is, how vast the universe, how incredibly unusual for life to exist and for us specifically as a species to exist. And the advanced state we're in, able to do almost anything. And then you realize that you're usi…

And then you realize that you're using this incredible and very temporary opportunity to sit in a chair for most of your waking hours, for decades in a row. Beats the hell out of scratching out a subsistence living. That ain't gonna afford me much of any opportunity other than scratching at the ground and hoping the locusts don't eat it. Anything beyond that, and we're just arguing about the degree of technology that…

Could be worse is not that much of a comeback. But I'm happy that you're happy.

I'm not unhappy, and I was exaggerating, but I do believe there's quite a gap between how amazing our existence is and how unamazing we tend to spent it.

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