Why do people get stuck in the rat race with a job they can't quit?
The answer has to do with the "Fear and Greed" cycle:
The answer has to do with the "Fear and Greed" cycle:
I recently had a chat with a friend over dinner...
She was telling me how she goes to work everyday out of fear.
Because she's worried if she stops working, she won't have money to pay the bills and put food on the table.
She's driven by fear of not having enough money.
She was telling me how she goes to work everyday out of fear.
Because she's worried if she stops working, she won't have money to pay the bills and put food on the table.
She's driven by fear of not having enough money.
So that forces her to wake up everyday and go to work at a job she doesn't like.
But it doesn't stop there.
It only gets worse because of this other emotion known as "Greed".
How does that come about?
But it doesn't stop there.
It only gets worse because of this other emotion known as "Greed".
How does that come about?
It's because of the unpleasant feeling to be controlled by fear.
It feels like we're not in control of our own destiny.
So what do most people do when they start earning a paycheck?
They try and soothe that fear by buying things that make them feel good.
It feels like we're not in control of our own destiny.
So what do most people do when they start earning a paycheck?
They try and soothe that fear by buying things that make them feel good.
It makes them feel like they are in control of their lives...
By being able to buy things they want and like.
Because they spend 90% of their day feeling crappy, they hope to at least use the money to reward themselves.
By being able to buy things they want and like.
Because they spend 90% of their day feeling crappy, they hope to at least use the money to reward themselves.
It can be cars, gadgets, holidays...
Anything that makes them feel better and in control of their life.
But that's an illusion.
What they don't realize is that because of greed, the hole gets deeper.
Because how do they pay for these items?
With their salary, of course.
Anything that makes them feel better and in control of their life.
But that's an illusion.
What they don't realize is that because of greed, the hole gets deeper.
Because how do they pay for these items?
With their salary, of course.
And overtime...
the need to buy bigger and bigger stuff increases with time, because the happiness from the past items wear off fast.
So as the items get bigger and more expensive, now they need to work even harder to keep up.
the need to buy bigger and bigger stuff increases with time, because the happiness from the past items wear off fast.
So as the items get bigger and more expensive, now they need to work even harder to keep up.
And when they get married or a kid comes along, that adds to their fear.
But how do they dilute the fear and feel better about themselves?
By working harder to make more money, and then using that money to buy even more expensive stuff!
Before they know it, they are trapped.
But how do they dilute the fear and feel better about themselves?
By working harder to make more money, and then using that money to buy even more expensive stuff!
Before they know it, they are trapped.
They wake up one day realizing they have indeed become a prisoner.
Because now they truly cannot stop working.
The minute they stop, they won't have enough money to pay the bills and cover their obligations.
Because now they truly cannot stop working.
The minute they stop, they won't have enough money to pay the bills and cover their obligations.
So they're forced to continue working, even though they feel unhappy.
That's how most people get stuck in the rat race, with a job they hate.
Sadly, most people work their whole lives without ever realizing this.
That's what happened to my friend.
That's how most people get stuck in the rat race, with a job they hate.
Sadly, most people work their whole lives without ever realizing this.
That's what happened to my friend.
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