Are my aims in life incompatible?

[BenMacdui]

Dear All,

I am new to the forum as a contributing member, although I have enjoyed reading as a guest for a while. I wish to learn and contribute as much as possible to the forum so that we call all reach our aims...

To put it bluntly, after gladly leaving my (very tiresome) job and pondering my next step in life, I have come up with the belief that the direction my career and life should take must contain the three following aims in the following order -

1) To be of service to the world and to help improve the condition of people in poverty (i.e. possibly through charitable work or collective action)

2) To travel the world as a routine

3) To make enough money to attain a comfortable living (I do not have a figure on this as this is dependent on the standard of living in the country I choose to live in etc..)

Now I am sure that many people come on this forum with aims not dissimilar to those above, but I do get the impression that careers and lives attaining 1) and 3) for instance appear to be thin on the ground. Also I have had people criticising my choice of travel (2) as being self-indulgent and something reserved for an elite few.

I wish to know from the other members of this forum whether a career or enterprise that incorporates the following is realistic, and any ideas and experiences you have in this area...

[Angela]

It sounds perfectly realistic and do-able to me! Not to mention inspiring.

Have you heard of Scott Harrison?

[spacecadetglow]

I can relate to you. I want to be an educator, musician, and world traveler all at once, myself. Maybe there will be times in your life when you focus on one thing more than the others, and that's okay. But I love it all! I want to do it all!

The trick is, not to beat yourself up when you're not giving one of your goals 100%. You can always come back to it later. For instance, I've been doing a lot of work in the PD area with myself, healing my wounds and exploring issues put on the back burner. I haven't been writing as much music during this time, but I sense myself shifting from a time of processing and reflecting to a time of more conscious creation. It ebbs and flows.

Anyway, your goals seem awesome, and doable. They will take shape into something realistic and workable, in their own way, if that is what you desire in your heart.

[faithsdaddy]

Hi Ben

Not incompatible, but they don't particularly support each other either. No reason not to do it all though ey mate

Number 3 is the toughie. Most ways of earning an income will chew up your time. Plenty of ways around it, but not easy. I would look towards passive income, something that pays a high rate or something you can pick up and drop as necessary. These are options that I'm am working on. However, I have little success, so if you want an authority on the subject, I'm not your man

Good luck with it Ben.

[Angelique]

Originally Posted by BenMacdui

Also I have had people criticising my choice of travel (2) as being self-indulgent and something reserved for an elite few.

Your Own Standards | Life Outside The Box | Tynan

He has other articles and an ebook on how he gave up staying in one spot. I want to be location independent, too.

I don't think your aims are incompatible at all. I believe in you!

[Brutha]

It's not like people who work in not-for-profit organisations starve because they don't get enough food. You don't get rich but the wages aren't that allow that they have to be uncomfortable.
Working in different African countries might also fulfill your travel goals.

[1by1]

I don't think there is anything incompatable about your goals... and anyway, over time and as you spend more time on them you will discover which is most important to you. That means that when one must be chosen at the cost of another you will be able to decide based on what you know about yourself.

Don't try and decide now in other words! Follow the road as far as you can see and when you get there the rest of the way will be clearer!

[LeadershipDevelopment]

i think it is all very realistic, and I have similar values to you...

Instead of helping people though my goal is to help underprivilleged and mistreated animals of the world.

You can easily combine travel with this, going around to all different places of the world and helping (people in your case). And the third goal comes in the place of funding the top two goals i feel. This is why i started internet marketing so I didnt have to have a conventional job the rest of my life and i could get a passive income.

You need a passive income to fund helping other people. This is not selfish and is fueled by great values

[C33]

Also I have had people criticising my choice of travel (2) as being self-indulgent and something reserved for an elite few.

You should change the people in your life instead of changing your life to fit their views of what life should be.Make yourself part of the elite few, who, for one thing: think for themselves and don't let other people qualify their goals...

What you describe is doable. If you have a comfortable lifestyle, that means you have extra money for charity. You can find a way to travel as a volunteer. Is there something you're exceptionally good at that could make you money on the road: putting up a street show, selling art/crafts,repairing cars/electronics.In many youth hostel, you can be given the opportunity to work for a while. Sometimes, under the table...and when you're around resourceful travelers, the word of mouth for odd jobs can help you find gigs.

You might not have all those things at the same time, but you can certainly aim towards that! Good luck!