tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19335166312113119232023-11-15T14:09:05.599-05:00FreedomAgeAaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-34635608389871417842011-06-05T14:58:00.000-04:002011-06-05T14:58:00.469-04:00The Negative TrainI have been working in corporate America for 6 1/2 years now with the same company, and relatively the same type of job. Up until this point, my motivation for going in every day has been to completely rid myself of financial debt incurred mostly during my college years and the few years after graduation. Well, now that I have successfully realized that goal, motivation for going in every day is becoming very difficult to come by. It has made me fully realize that I don´t have some deep, inspiring passion for what I do. Sure, money provides all sorts of benefits in itself, but we all agree at least theoretically, that it can´t bring ultimate satisfaction in and of itself. Oh, and I promise that I´m not forgetting about the millions of people that have it way worse than I do with absolutely no end in sight. So, I guess this rant makes me somewhat greedy and selfish. I apologize upfront for that and will continue to work on it. My main goal here is to be honest.<div> <div>Sooo...</div><div><br />
</div><div>A big challenge I have had recently is finding the time, and more so the energy and motivation, to figure out what it is that I want to do. This can be such a daunting task, and frankly, one for which I was not prepared. I even feel guilty at times for not knowing. Sure, I have some ideas, but I was never that guy that knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. I envy these people. Are they for real? Or are they just able to mentally psyche themselves out enough to follow through on their goals? I´m frustrated to the point that I have even considered professional counseling. </div><div><br />
</div><div>There are all sorts of programs and people out there showing you how to get debt free, encourage you, and remind you of the benefits. I really like these people. However, these resources don´t focus as much on the period after, when you are no longer required to do your job to pay off your mountains of credit card debt and student loans. Until I find my passion and am doing it, there is this in-between phase that can be really difficult. I have, however, learned one crucial principle. Avoid what I refer to as ¨The Negative Train¨. I´m not really one that buys into power positive thinking, and while I don´t necessarily think it´s 100% hocus pocus, I think there are some who take it way too far. Like anything else, a healthy balance of it can probably go a very long way. Negativity is an interesting train to ride. Over time, being familiar with the thoughts and feelings that come with negativity and the ´blame anything but myself´ game can become very comfortable, and it makes it harder and harder to get off. You end up staying on just to defend your position and why you got on the train in the first place. Believe me! I am working to get off the train myself...right now, even as I type. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I need to first acknowledge what a huge blessing it is to have a job. Also, to acknowledge what a huge blessing it is to have a job that pays enough to cover my expenses and save a little for the future. Yes, I am thankful. And if I were to die tomorrow, I would have lived a pretty good life. That´s something to be thankful for in itself. So, if you find yourself working toward financial freedom, keep going, stay on track with the plan you´ve set in place. It is certainly worth whatever sacrifices you´re making. To those who are doing what they love, I envy you...in a healthy way, of course. You can help to show the rest of us how to make our talents and interests a bigger part of the work we do on a daily. To the in-betweeners, and really everyone, stay positive! Remind yourself of all the things you do enjoy and the blessings you do have. Focus more on today than on tomorrow. And don´t be too busy to encourage others in this sometimes difficult journey we call life. Peace!</div></div>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-23977635070566125742010-12-11T07:04:00.000-05:002010-12-11T08:05:24.626-05:00The Law of Distraction<div><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; border: medium none;color:transparent;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="body">Multi-tasking arises out of distraction itself ~Marilyn vos Savant</span><span class="bodybold"> </span><span></span><br /></div></div><br />Distraction: the enemy of focus. Have you ever marveled at how much you can accomplish when you are not distracted? Have you ever noticed how the quality also increases?<br /><br />Who ever said multi-tasking is a good thing?<br /><br />In the movie, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Last Samurai</span>, Tom Cruise's character describes this very simple culture in which he finds himself immersed. He brings with him his perspective, as we all do; which happens to be an American one. It is also when America is experiencing great change by way of the industrial revolution. He is shocked at how these people, known as the Samurai, spend<span style="font-style: italic;"></span> their entire lives perfecting whatever task to which they have set their mind. And by our standards, they move extremely slow, paying close attention to every single detail. They are focused only on the single task in front of them; at whatever stage it is in.<br /><br />The sole purpose of multi-tasking is to get as many things done as possible; regard for quality takes a backseat.<br /><br />How much time do we spend actually working while we're at work? What if we applied all of our attention to the task at hand. What would that work look like? I argue that it would not only be done more efficiently, but the "product" would be of higher quality. Your odds of making a mistake are reduced greatly. Have you ever had to go back and redo an entire task because you rushed through it the first time? Slow down. Focus. The whole world will benefit.<br /><br />Quiet your mind. Allow it to focus completely on the task at hand. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish.<br /><br />It is a lofty challenge...this mission to avoid distraction. It is not merely external (with advertisers, Facebook, Twitter, people, drama, TV, etc.) -- it is also internal. Our thoughts can affect our emotional state and our biological state. Have you ever anxiously thought yourself into a headache?<br /><br />Your thoughts can either control you, or you can control your thoughts. I say, let them be the tool in your creative endeavor. I say, allow only the constructive thoughts to survive in the finite hours of a day. What could the human race achieve if it focused solely on perfecting the task at hand, and didn't lose precious time on viciously hunting for the destination?<br /><br />It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> all about the journey, right?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-68005583529206876652010-12-07T17:59:00.000-05:002010-12-07T18:41:45.414-05:00The Shadows On The WallStepping back once in awhile is good. A different perspective often reveals truths that were impossible to see before. How often do we step back from our lives in order to gain clarity or consider the path that we are on; the big picture so to speak? Are we afraid of what we may see? Are we afraid of being unimpressed? One exercise I find extremely interesting is to sit alone in a crowded place and observe those around me. Many people seem to be looking for something. Perhaps they are looking for some sensory stimulation; perhaps they are looking for someone. Others seem to be very concerned about everything with the exception of where they are at that particular moment. Perhaps they are preparing themselves mentally for something in the future. Perhaps they are replaying an event that lays forever unchanged in their past. Like most other human beings, I have participated in both pastimes. I am amazed at the extent to which we live from our desires. This, I assume, can be bad or good -- depending on the desire. I wonder how many of us really scrutinize a desire before we let it steal a piece of our lives. And what is our criteria for letting it in? Even if we live with a moral code, how often do we make exceptions? There are many "gray lines" in this world -- I imagine we get pretty good at rationalizing the gray lines of our own moral code as well.<br /><br />As in all societies across space and time, there is a great need for analysis. Analysis of the self. Society and its structures. Ideas, whether they have an apparent complexity or not. This analysis flies violently in the face of lies we are told to believe. Often times, no matter how convinced we are of our findings, the results can be hard to fully accept. Fully in the way in which we not only mentally acknowledge their existence, but also adopt them and make them permanent parts of our personality and ways of thought. Philosophers refer to this phenomenon as a "lifting of the veil". I believe it was a "cave" that had to be left behind in Plato's writings. Neo experienced it in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Matrix</span>. Tyler experienced it in <span style="font-style: italic;">Fight Club. </span>We somehow identify with this "other world" concept. But the systems and organizations we have come to despise are nothing more than human constructs. This tells me one very important fact. No matter how badly we feel called to join in the fight against this pseudo reality, we will most certainly be lost if the truth that first awakened us from our soulful sleep is not ignited with a spark every so often. Not only must we undo years of unquestioned learning, but we must also continue to dust and clean the new objects of truth. We must subject ourselves to constant reminders.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-42456975562312827022010-12-02T05:48:00.000-05:002010-12-02T06:45:07.681-05:00Imagination LostI have been a Minimalist for a few years now; a movement that has gained steam recently due to our economic times. Minimalism isn't exactly the same thing as frugality or conservative finance. However, if economic hardship has made people examine their lives and question their habits or lifestyle, then the crash of the stock market, the loss of 401k plans, and the mortgage crisis indeed come with a silver lining. We often hear authors and dreamers tell us to think of our life as a story. A story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. That it is in our best interest to write a good story. The most obvious problem this presents for our human nature is the contrasting desire to seek comfort and to avoid conflict. The only stories I ever find good or interesting are ones in which an obstacle is overcome. The greater the obstacle to overcome, the more impressive and interesting the story. And the very best stories leave you astonished at the end when you realize the protagonist overcame his assigned obstacle with nobility and creativity. In today's very consumer oriented society, the masses label obstacles as something to be avoided at all co$t...literally. We have been indoctrinated to some extent to believe that something already exists for the obstacle (or problem) we have. You just have to be able to buy it. We buy our solutions. And in the process we are slowly losing one of the most wonderful faculties of our humanness; our creativity. Another way to say this is that we are losing our capacity for imagination.<br /><br />I love having revelations...usually. As with most revelations, they often get labeled as such after they've already infiltrated our hearts and minds. They are ideas or maxims we've adhered to for some time, but they often snuck in unlabeled and unidentified. We notice them later while doing some menial task...<span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, there you are. I didn't see you there...let's see, what shall I call you?</span> My most recent revelation is that Minimalism, among many things, gives us the opportunity to exercise the lost art of creativity; our imagination. A minimalist does not believe a prepackaged object exists for every issue that may arise. Therein exists the opportunity to use the creative side to overcome. Thinking of our life as a good story and feeling some inclination to write a good one will be difficult at first. Primarily because it will force us to think of our obstacles or challenges as the very key ingredients to making our story worth sharing (and not like all the rest). Admittedly, I am still working on this one. The best imaginations are the ones less exposed to mass marketing, advertising, etc.. Imagination is often something labeled as childish, or taboo. <span style="font-style: italic;">Wow, you've got some imagination there</span>. It's seen as something that a healthy, rational adult just doesn't exercise too much. We all must grow up, right? I think we've been fooled. Our imagination has taken such a beating from our society because it is the very thing that would keep us from being a loyal consumer...and there <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> profits at stake here! Oh, that our imaginations would not wither and die once and for all. That we would reawaken them and be awestruck by their power to overcome. That the children and free spirits would become our teachers. That our stories would be unique and filled with creativity. That we would awaken our humanity and the dreams that lay covered in dust in the attics of our childish minds.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-58979107685937650422010-06-12T12:12:00.000-04:002010-06-12T12:51:19.473-04:00The NormIt's hard to know where all of this really began -- this desire for a life that's no-nonsense. One that's packed full of freedom, passion, and, well...life! As I sit here now typing, it's easier to think back to impactful moments. Seconds and minutes of clarity. Sometimes hours of contemplation will culminate into one idea that blows the doors off of something. The A-Ha! moments are few, but they are quality. "Quality over quantity!" as a dear friend of mine always says. I've learned a lot in only a few short weeks. A lot of it is philosophical in nature, but I think it's good to try and peel back the surface layer of anything...see what makes it tick...see why it "is".<br /><br />There are so many things in our country, and world for that matter, that are so easily accepted by the masses -- me included. A lot of them crumble like a house of cards after a little questioning and challenging. I have to proactively ask myself the "why" question any time I catch myself doing something out of habit.<br /><br />The just-in-case items. The 2 for 1 special. The economy pack. The new and improved version. There are so many ways our world helped us accumulate. We are in the habit of buying things, so we also have to be in the habit of storing things. So the idea of a 2,000+ sq. ft. house makes sense to us. I mean, where else will you put all of your things? The care, energy, attention, storage, money, time, etc. that our things require of us end up trapping us in lives that we never would have agreed to consciously. Does this scare anybody else? I'm not saying that things in and of themselves are bad. We need some things. But we don't need two or three of the same thing all the time, do we? I've pared down quite a bit in the last few weeks, but before that, I'd say that in a given month I only touched 20% of my material possessions. The other 80% was taking up space, collecting dust, awaiting the next time I boxed them up for a move. This is insanity.<br /><br />It sounds insane if you tell people you don't want to own a car. Regardless of the monetary benefits, there are also health benefits, environmental savings, time, energy. But a car, even though only some 8% of the world has one, is considered normal, perhaps even necessary, in this American consumer culture. Obviously, whether or not you own a car depends heavily on where you live, work, etc. so I feel for the people who might need to do more work to get rid of theirs if that's what they want. A different neighborhood? A difference city?<br /><br />I currently own a car. I am planning on going carless in 2 or 3 months. The idea is exciting to me. Exloring the streets and city that my car has shielded me from. The simplicity of it is very appealing to me. These thoughts are random, and my posts have, in my opinion, been very unorganized thus far. I hope to take specific ideas or topics and tackle them one at a time, and more in depth. Stay tuned!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-61670339822183862312010-06-10T23:20:00.000-04:002010-06-10T23:36:43.748-04:00We all need good remindersIt's been a good week. I've pared down my clothing collection by about 40%. Things I hardly wear or don't wear at all anymore have gone to Goodwill. I've reduced my DVD collection by 50%. I've also reduced the space they consume by putting them all in a CD wallet made for the car. I've posted some of my more valuable items on Craigslist and am already receiving interest to purchase them. I've been inspired greatly by fellow minimalist bloggers, and they're right...it's a process. Any time I even think about getting discouraged I just read a few blogs, remind myself of why I'm taking this step, and get right back on track. I don't want my life to be largely highlighted by how much crap I managed to buy. Wanting to do something transcendent and reflective of my values is my biggest motivation. However, we are all different. There's a good chance your biggest motivation is different too.<br /><br />I'm also trying to put some thought time into the future. What do I want to do after my big debt payoff plan? I meet a lot of people who tell me they have their own company. They always explain what they do in very vague terms. It makes me think they're struggling and really have nothing going on. Maybe I'm being unnecessarily negative and doubtful. I need to remind myself that we live in a world of abundance -- even in spite of this down economy. I like the idea of creating something unique. I also like the idea of helping people. I hope that I can integrate these two things into whatever I end up doing.<br /><br />Happy Friday!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933516631211311923.post-85144701052021303852010-06-04T17:27:00.000-04:002010-06-04T17:53:00.077-04:00Liberty Chain...So I think I've told enough people about my <em>get out of debt </em>strategy because the pressure to follow through is certainly there. Why create a blog for this? Because I think my desire to get out of debt goes a lot deeper than having fewer expenses every month; and I'm hoping this blog, the process of writing about it, and any feedback or comments, will help me find out exactly what it is that I'm after. So please, follow along and feel free to comment on the topics. There is going to be more here than just tipping the scales of assets and liabilities.<br /><br />It all started when I decided to buy a new car. The idea to get a fun, new jeep really got me going for a few days. I was doing the research and planning out the financing part. Embarrassingly, I even imagined myself in the jeep and how cool it would be to drive down the road with the wind in my hair. I woke up one morning and it was very clear that a new jeep would not help me in my overall goal. What is that goal? Freedom! Independence! The chance to do something I'm passionate about...every single day! School loan debt, credit card debt, car loans...it's all part of the normal American's life. I believe, however, the lifestyle we've come to believe as normal and necessary is simply a prison in many ways. I'm not saying that going to school, and taking out loans to do so, is a bad thing. I agree, there are different types of debt -- and not all of it is bad. But I go to work to pay for things. My money isn't creating anything transcendent, or eternally worthwhile...and something has got to change.<br /><br />I think a lot of people would consider me a minimalist; but I live pretty much paycheck to paycheck...and there's no freedom to it. I'm a slave to my material possessions.<br /><br />My goal here is not to sacrifice or suffer for some pious recognition, nor to unncessarily do without. My goal is be 100% aware of the decisions I make, and be mindful of whether or not those decisions are bringing me life or taking it from me. This is not always obvious. I just don't want my legacy to be that of the common American consumer. I want to break the mold.<br /><br />Tonight I'm creating a chain...out of paper. It will be used to count down 12 months...which is what I think I'll need to be 100% debt free. I know, I sound like I'm 12 years old and I'm waiting for Santa Claus to come down the chimney. But, hopefully, the chain will help to keep me focused on the goal and to see the the light at the end of the tunnel. Through this process, however, I plan to do more than pay off some debt. I want to engage in some behavior modification. Why behavior modification? Because starting pretty much at birth we are subjected to advertising and marketing -- and we have all, to some extent, bought into the lie that we are incomplete without this or that new thing. I am going to be doing an inventory of the things I have, the things I think I want, and the things I plan to strive for in the future. I am a free spirit through and through, but this will require that I be proactive on some things. Some behavior needs to be modified. Some habits need to be broken.<br /><br />Will you take this journey with me?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410265183346002875noreply@blogger.com0