Anybody Content With Their Average Life With An Average Salary?

I put my goals everywhere lmao... freezer,rear view mirror, supplements..... my girl thinks I'm crazy lmao

Absolutely nothing wrong with a Vision Board. I created a memo to myself in 2010 and I still look at it to this day and constantly add/cross things off.

Hell, I still read that Motivation piece somebody here shared, from reddit, back in 2012 and it still gets my blood flowing to do more. Here it is and hopefully, it can help someone as it does me.

"There is this weird mentally, especially on
circlejerking places like Reddit, that somehow you deserve to have all
the things you want. That you deserve that awesome woman or man that
you only dare to stare at from a distance. That you deserve the great
body, healthy skin, perfect job, high pay, amazing holidays, the new
computer or your dream fulfilled.

Well, guess what: You don't. There is no one in the universe that
looks at you and says "well, you deserve to have all these things, I
am going to give them to you". You don't deserve anything. If you can
read this you probably already had many great things thrown at you for
which you didn't do a thing. A good education, loving parents, food,
shelter, a computer, maybe even a good spot in university or a good
job.

If you want to be the person that you want to be - do something for
it. You don't know people? How could you if you waste your time on
Reddit or with porn? Go and get a hobby, join a club, do something
that you haven't done before.

You can't dance? Learn it. You can't tell jokes? Train it. You don't
like your job? Find a new one. You don't have the skills? Find out
what skills you want - and learn it. You want to find an attractive
partner? Become an attractive partner first.

I am annoyed by Reddit, or, to say it more precise: By the attitude of
a large part of the youth today. By the beliefs that people here hold.
My favourite is the "Need work experience to find a job" thing that
comes up every now or then. Why do they look for people with work
experience? Because any employer knows that those who don't have work
experience are probably at fault themselves. They are the
self-entitled ones who believe that food should fly in their mouths,
and that their great inner values are enough to become great, no work
needed. Sure, there might be one or two who would deserve better luck
- but likely, when you are honest with yourself, you are probably not
one of them.

Or another: friendzone. Friendzone. The most ridiculous and sexist
concept I have ever heard of. Yes, it's now applied in both
directions, but traditionally it is that a woman "puts" a "nice" guy
in the friendzone. The poor fellow. She is so hot and he likes her so
much. And he does nice things for her. Why doesn't she love him for
the things he does? Why is she so cruel? Well, it's because he is an
idiot. He believes that you can buy attraction. Do you fall in love
with a girl just because she occasionally helps you out? Of course
not. You fall in love because of looks and character and her behaviour
and likely because of a well formed personality. She is an interesting
person, that's why you feel attracted to her, why you want to spend
time with her. And, sure, some women might more or less consciously
exploit that. But that doesn't change the matter:

If you believe that somebody else ought to love you because you do
something nice for them; if you believe that somebody else needs to
feel a certain way because of things you do - then you are an idiot.
If you are unhappily in the friendzone - you are an idiot, plain and
simple. Deal with it, accept that you have a good friend, and move on.
Or try and take the relationship to a new level. But don't whine how
cruel the girl is because she doesn't let you hump her even when you
fix her computer.

Do you deserve anything? HELL NO. Is there a "fair" universe - where
fair means biased in your favour - that gives you all the things you
want? HELL NO.

If you are on Reddit whining about your lack of friends or partner or
your horrible job - then consider for a moment whether you are part of
the problem, whether it is not your fault rather than the rest of the
world being rude to you.

You chose a bad partner? Your choice.

You think you deserve a better job? Go and get it.

Yes yes, it's not easy. Oh, you sent 70 applications and still no one
took you? Did you ever consider that maybe you are not interesting
enough for them to take you? Maybe it's not your lack of experience,
mabye it's your horrible spelling, your lack of skills, your subtle
disrespect for them, or any other of a million things. Maybe you are
just unlucky, there are a few of those - but, if you are honest with
yourself, the chance that you are one of them is small.

Most people are socialised in this "get it all" society. Instant
gratification through TV and fast food and those fake achievements of
games that come in exactly that interval that keeps you hooked. Life
doesn't work like that. Clicking a button and doing fun things will
rarely make you successful. Hard work, that's where it's at. Of
course, even hard work doesn't guarantee anything. You need to invest
it wisely. You need to be willing to make sacrifices. You need to stay
strong. You want to lose those 200lb? Well, good for you that you
exercise 15 minutes a day. Bad for you that you say yes to all those
donuts and chips.

People fail because they expect instant rewards. You avoid that donut
and in return you wake up in the morning and your trousers fit. You
start reading a book on French and the next day you can talk fluently.
You can sit in front of your computer, doing your job with average
results while you spend time on reddit - and you still think you
deserve a raise? You wake up and don't bother to shower but still
expect people to enjoy your company? You spend your nights all at home
playing video games and still you expect to be able to have
interesting discussions with other people?

You, if you are that person, are an idiot. You don't deserve good
things, you work for them. The whole concept of "deserving" something,
punishment or reward, is based on an ancient logic that there is
somebody watching over us who can read your mind and rewards you for
merely being good and punishes you for merely being bad. Well, guess
what, you can get away with stealing when you do it right. And you can
suffer for doing good things, if you do it wrong.

Get that in your head: The world is not fair. The World Is Not Fair.
There is no fairness, no justice. And you should be happy about that,
because else probably you would be starving and not the Indian farmer
who works 14 hours a day to feed his family and still half his
children die from diarrhea and he himself with 30 from starvation.

The world is not fair. You can be one of the 1% or so lucky ones,
those who get things for merely being born in the right family, or
with the right looks or the incredible mental skills. But chances are
you are not.

But still: You can be the person you want to be. You CAN. If you work
for it. Your application keeps getting refused? Ask others why. Ask
them for candid feedback, not to be nice. You are alone? Go out and
meet people? You are fat? Lose weight. Oh, but your friends want to go
to McDonalds? Nice excuse for lack of wilpower. You don't know how to
cook? Learn it. You are bored? Go get a life. You hate your town?
Move.

I hear you, I really do. You say "it's not that easy" or maybe "you
just don't understand my situation" or "I'm trying my best.." blah
blah.

My answer is simple: You are an idiot. You don't understand, you
refuse to understand a simple fact: The world is not skewed in your
favour. You don't deserve anything. Life is not supposed to be easy,
it is not supposed to be any way. There are no checkpoints along the
way, or small boxes with rewards - life is not a video game. Life just
is. It is hard, it is sometimes unfair, it is sometimes difficult,
even painful. But if you don't like it the way there is only one
option. Only one, and unless you accept that you will fail over and
over again, you will be unhappy for all your life:

If you don't like the way things are - fight with all your power to
change it. You can't find happiness, you have to create it. You don't
deserve breaks. You don't deserve a pat on the back. You don't deserve
that snickers. You don't deserve those new shoes. You don't "deserve"
anything.

You need to choose where you want to be, and then you need to work
your way towards it. Someday you might succeed. Or maybe you don't.
But you know one thing: If you never try you will always fail, every
day, every hour, every second.

You need to work for the things you want. Of course you can't achieve
everything. Of course not everybody can be president. But for those
things that any person dreams of - a good partner, a nice place, a
good job and a healthy social life, and for most other dreams that
people might hold: You are not magically entitled to have it. You need
to work for it. There is no alternative. And if you believe there is,
if you believe you are entitled to something, to anything - then you
are, plain and simple, an idiot.

Do you act and think as if you are entitled? Do you believe that you
deserve things to be better? Then, my friend, you are wrong. Then, my
friend, you need to learn that the world is not a good and gentle
place. The world is a neutral place. Some start lucky. Some start
unlucky. But I haven't seen a person yet who cannot improve his lot by
working hard on improving it."

Read that response in your spoiler and while it was filled with some hard knock truths, I couldn't help but feel like it was all coming from a place of angst and bitterness. Sounded like one scorned individual trying to scorn another. :lol: The tone of it all sort of took away from the point he was trying to drive home.
 
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People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.
-Andrew Carnegie

People who cannot invent and reinvent themselves must be content with borrowed postures, secondhand ideas, fitting in instead of standing out.
-Warren Bennis

Success is getting and achieving what you want. Happiness is wanting and being content with what you get.
-Bernard Weltzer

I'm only ever content when I am successful in achieving a goal. The fun part is putting in the work to achieve said goal. I've had a few times in my life where I was able to kick back for a week or two and be completely filled with joy with no accompanying worries. I felt truly content. But I know I have so much more to offer to the world, and so much more to prove to myself. Being content is a fleeting emotion for me. I'm always pushing myself to do things I never imagined I would be doing. It's great to cherish moments that define your success. We should all take time to live in those moments. However, you have to constantly be pushing yourself toward your next goal. Look back at a younger version of yourself and ask that version of yourself what they think of you today. Are you proud or disappointed? Do you want to be that jock that peeked in high school and wears his state championship football jacket to the 10 year reunion? Or will your crowning achievement be greater? It's only up to you to decide.

In the past 5 years I have doubled my salary at my day job. I'm not learning anything here any more. It usually only takes me a few hours each day to get my work done and I'm sitting confined to this office like a prisoner for the rest of the day. I'm sure many would be "content" with my pay and benefits but I am not. I'll be resigning this year to focus on running my small business full time. The dual income right now is nice... But I will have to put 100% of myself into my next endeavor if I want to be successful. That is where I am reinventing myself, my potential will be revealed, and I will progress to learn more about the world and myself. I'll be OK if I fail. I will be "content" with that failure knowing I pushed the envelope and tried my best.

A lot of these kids today I think are more content just to be on Facebook and the computer than they are to actually go out. They just really want to get a picture to post to their buddies, and that's about it. They're all buying/sharing the same stuff with eachother. People post on social media to say "I have this too, I'm cool" instead of saying "look what I'm doing, it's new and uniqe." I think this social media age is very dangerous because it breeds a culture of fitting in, assimilating, rather than sticking out. Also, the instant gratification aspect warps the minds of these kids and they have no discipline to set out and actually work towards their goals. When everything is based off of likes, people are only motivated for those likes. And they are usually doing the same thing every one else is to get those likes. How can you ever gain your own success if you are doing what everyone else is?
 
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Not content. But it has nothing to do with money. I was never motivated by money or materialism. I only strive to be secure and happy and have the people around me in the same boat. I don't see myself having kids at this point. I'd rather adopt a child in need from Syria, Africa, etc. I never understood how there could be starving children in the world yet couples are having 3-4-5 kids. Not condemning it, I just think it's odd and unfair to less fortunate folks.

So far I've spent my career in human services, criminal justice. It's pissing against the wind. It's like the war on drugs or war on terror. The powers that be in this country force the less fortunate to defy all odds in an attempt to live an "average life."

Personally I'd be happy with a condo/small home, a job I enjoy and do good for people, a girl, a dog, and an opportunity to travel occasionally.

In my experience, the most content people are those in tune with nature, outdoorsmen, etc.
 
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In my experience, the most content people are those in tune with nature, outdoorsmen, etc.
realtalk.

when you find value in what you do and have what you need, then you should be ok.
but most people (in the u.s.) have been conditions to "need" more and fall into consumerism.
when you are detached from tv, social media, and anything else that force feeds those notions,
you can have a clearer picture of what your needs really are.
 
@Hennessy  
pimp.gif
  Resigning from a lot of people's dream job lol I love it ! Aim higher don't be average !
 
Being content with what you do is very important as well. Doing something that you like to do might make life not so average. It is probably easier for younger people without many obligations in life to pursue dreams but older individuals can do it too.
I just started reading The Alchemist by Paulo Cohen because it was recommended to me by a friend. I do not want to ruin it, but its a good book so far about the journey of life. If anyone else has read it please provide your input.
 
@Hennessy
 :pimp:   Resigning from a lot of people's dream job lol I love it ! Aim higher don't be average !

This is so true. It took me a couple years to realize it, but always "aim higher don't be average". That is definitely something to live by. Average person will make average income/life. If you want more you have to work harder/smarter than the average and take risks.
 
This is so true. It took me a couple years to realize it, but always "aim higher don't be average". That is definitely something to live by. Average person will make average income/life. If you want more you have to work harder/smarter than the average and take risks.
Man when you start looking at the average american stats I really hope everyone aims to be better than average.

Set your goals higher. I like the philosophy of Grant Cardone's 10X Rule. Multiply your goals by 10, so you work 10X as hard and even if you don't achieve your goal you will make it much further than if you set the bar low and underachieved .
 
Being content with what you do is very important as well. Doing something that you like to do might make life not so average. It is probably easier for younger people without many obligations in life to pursue dreams but older individuals can do it too.
I just started reading The Alchemist by Paulo Cohen because it was recommended to me by a friend. I do not want to ruin it, but its a good book so far about the journey of life. If anyone else has read it please provide your input.
I've read it. One of my favorite books. Many great messages.
“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
Because the eighth time could be your breakthrough. Some of the greatest novels in history were published after receiving hundreds of rejections.
“If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
It’s easy to be influenced by others, but you’ll be miserable if you end up living someone else’s life. There’s nothing wrong with taking advice and learning from others, but make sure it aligns with your desires and passions.
“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”

Gratitude is the practice of finding the good in each day. Life can easily become stagnant, mundane, and monotonous, but that changes depending on what we choose to see. There’s always a silver lining, if you look for it.
 
Man when you start looking at the average american stats I really hope everyone aims to be better than average.

Set your goals higher. I like the philosophy of Grant Cardone's 10X Rule. Multiply your goals by 10, so you work 10X as hard and even if you don't achieve your goal you will make it much further than if you set the bar low and underachieved .

I did the audio version of the 10x Rule. I definitely need to read a physical copy, because I don't remember it much.
I retain more info from reading |I
Definitely a good message.
 
Not content. But it has nothing to do with money. I was never motivated by money or materialism. I only strive to be secure and happy and have the people around me in the same boat. I don't see myself having kids at this point. I'd rather adopt a child in need from Syria, Africa, etc. I never understood how there could be starving children in the world yet couples are having 3-4-5 kids. Not condemning it, I just think it's odd and unfair to less fortunate folks.

So far I've spent my career in human services, criminal justice. It's pissing against the wind. It's like the war on drugs or war on terror. The powers that be in this country force the less fortunate to defy all odds in an attempt to live an "average life."

Personally I'd be happy with a condo/small home, a job I enjoy and do good for people, a girl, a dog, and an opportunity to travel occasionally.

In my experience, the most content people are those in tune with nature, outdoorsmen, etc.
See thats what I wanna do at this point. Instead of spending my whole life chasing a piece of paper, I wanna get in tune with nature, see the beauty this earth really has to offer. I'm a big city boy, so I'm not in tune with the simple living country folk type life. I wanna do simple **** like fish, hunt, camping, travel etc. I really don't care about ferraris/mansions and millions anymore.
 
I did the audio version of the 10x Rule. I definitely need to read a physical copy, because I don't remember it much.
I retain more info from reading |I
Definitely a good message.
Read the physical copy while listening to the audiobook to retain information a lot better since more than one sense is being used.


And average won't cut it where I live. As much as I can't stand most of these smug *** techie transplants, in a way they force me to step it up in life.
 
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Read the physical copy while listening to the audiobook to retain information a lot better since more than one sense is being used.


And average won't cut it where I live. As much as I can't stand most of these smug *** techie transplants, in a way they force me to step it up in life.
Thats how I feel about the DC area. You have no choice but to step it up or get pushed out of the area.
 
people take "content" one of two ways, usually.... 

either you're content and have no drive to be better..... or you're content and don't need the lifestyle society tends to tell you that you need to be happy

i'm the latter version of content --- which happened just recently 

i started to stop counting down the days until the weekend and approaching each day as it's own experience ... monday and friday are the same to me 

i also started working in another department which has allowed me to a) work from home and b)  "play my game" --- no more being restricted to a certain role... I got the green light to shoot

the documentary MINIMAL on Netflix changed a lot of my thought process too.... within a week a sold/donated/gave-away 70% of my clothing and sneakers.. i haven't been spending money on material stuff lately and am trying to make the material things I do purchase count, be something I really want, and I won't lose interest in 

now... if my kids stopped being momma's babies and agreed to come live with me.... i'd be set --- my son is on the fence, his sister not so much
 
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