Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - What motivates people to work when they are set for life?

hotwired · 05-27-2007, 10:08 AM

I know someone who went from "on track" to suddenly having enough money to stop working but decided to keep working for a while and have a real plan. At first he said it was this peaceful feeling. Suddenly having enough cash to generate a middle class paycheck forever. He enjoyed that peace a while, and had thoughts about quitting work asap. His attitude was that it was sinful to work even one more day when he could pursue some of his "unaccomplished dreams". time went by. He had promised himself and famiy that he would give it one year before making any major decisions. He delved into spiritual matters, educating himself all he could. He suddenly had a realization which came from an old story about a spiritual student asking a spiritual master what enlightenment was like ... he said "before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water ... after enlightenment .... chop wood carry water..", - The meaning and lesson he got was that everything, everything, everything came from inside. Whether you were chopping wood, pumping gas or drinking margueritas in Captain Tony's, your happiness and bliss came from this moment inside you. So then, he still decided to leave work, but to do it slowly. He decided that the financial legacy he left for his daughter was much more important than quitting a job he really enjoyed, and is having lots of fun planning. He is wise and knows that the journey is the appetizer, main course and dessert and the "event" really is nothing more than the "patting of the stomach" afterward. So ... that's why HE works. And he also always wanted to be the guitar player for the rolling stones, so he's grinding his axe a little more these days!

05-27-2007, 10:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
hotwired Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 100	perspective I know someone who went from "on track" to suddenly having enough money to stop working but decided to keep working for a while and have a real plan. At first he said it was this peaceful feeling. Suddenly having enough cash to generate a middle class paycheck forever. He enjoyed that peace a while, and had thoughts about quitting work asap. His attitude was that it was sinful to work even one more day when he could pursue some of his "unaccomplished dreams". time went by. He had promised himself and famiy that he would give it one year before making any major decisions. He delved into spiritual matters, educating himself all he could. He suddenly had a realization which came from an old story about a spiritual student asking a spiritual master what enlightenment was like ... he said "before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water ... after enlightenment .... chop wood carry water..", - The meaning and lesson he got was that everything, everything, everything came from inside. Whether you were chopping wood, pumping gas or drinking margueritas in Captain Tony's, your happiness and bliss came from this moment inside you. So then, he still decided to leave work, but to do it slowly. He decided that the financial legacy he left for his daughter was much more important than quitting a job he really enjoyed, and is having lots of fun planning. He is wise and knows that the journey is the appetizer, main course and dessert and the "event" really is nothing more than the "patting of the stomach" afterward. So ... that's why HE works. And he also always wanted to be the guitar player for the rolling stones, so he's grinding his axe a little more these days!