What is FIRE really about? Is it about having enough money to walk away from work forever (RE), and never working again? Is it really about a number? Is it about having control over our financial lives which feel out of control?
Is it about wanting a financial backup plan upon backup plan before quitting a job that is way too stressful for those who are risk adverse? Is FIRE really just rebranding quitting a job with a positive spin?
I would suggest financial independence is really a tool to enable us to find balance in an imbalanced capitalistic society. The reality is that unless you are a business owner or landlord, you will never really be paid your market value, because your employer needs to make a profit, and an increasing amount of profit each year if it is publicly traded. That naturally leads to us, as employees being squeezed for more time and productivity in a way that becomes increasingly uncomfortable, especially as our incomes rise and more revenue is required. Like a frog boiling in a pot, the imbalaned demands are imperceptible at first, until it is intolerable.
A “traditional” image of a FIRE life, where one detaches from the working world, separating from work relationships, intellectual stimulation, purpose, and identity isn’t balanced. It’s ok for us to acknowledge that “work” or “employment” provides us non-financial benefits, such as the feeling of achievement, delivering value for others, community, or even routine. Never “working” ever again seems as imbalanced as working a gruelling job.
In an ideal FI life, to me, balance would mean:
Is it about wanting a financial backup plan upon backup plan before quitting a job that is way too stressful for those who are risk adverse? Is FIRE really just rebranding quitting a job with a positive spin?
I would suggest financial independence is really a tool to enable us to find balance in an imbalanced capitalistic society. The reality is that unless you are a business owner or landlord, you will never really be paid your market value, because your employer needs to make a profit, and an increasing amount of profit each year if it is publicly traded. That naturally leads to us, as employees being squeezed for more time and productivity in a way that becomes increasingly uncomfortable, especially as our incomes rise and more revenue is required. Like a frog boiling in a pot, the imbalaned demands are imperceptible at first, until it is intolerable.
A “traditional” image of a FIRE life, where one detaches from the working world, separating from work relationships, intellectual stimulation, purpose, and identity isn’t balanced. It’s ok for us to acknowledge that “work” or “employment” provides us non-financial benefits, such as the feeling of achievement, delivering value for others, community, or even routine. Never “working” ever again seems as imbalanced as working a gruelling job.
In an ideal FI life, to me, balance would mean:
- Doing something where I am engaged and taking ownership, but not taking such a purpose-filled role that I would excessively care about and get burned out.
Maintaining sufficient friendships and relationships which feel genuine, neither having abandoned/being abandoned by all work contacts after departing work, but also not building 5000 Linkedin followers as if I needed to hit a sales target.
Keeping in mind momentum mori (i.e. the moment before death) to live life fully, but not dwelling on an impending death.
Intentionally pursuing a life/financial plan but accepting that much of life including the stock market is uncertain.
Providing value for the rest of the world while still balancing how we would like to spend our time.
Doing something that provides enough novel “new” stimulus, but with a balance of routine.
Statistics: Posted by beaverclea — Sun Aug 04, 2024 12:59 am — Replies 5 — Views 474