Feeling guilty

[antkn33]

I am only part way through Timothy's book. however I can't help but feel a little guilty about contemplating something like this. I have a decent job and decent pay. I know a lot of people are struggling in this area.
However I am dissatisfied with job. Mainly because it seems boring and pointless. Tim's book really appeals to me in that I tend to be more creative. I have been a musician and woodworker for a long time, however not professionally. My full time job is anything but creative.
Honestly the biggest reason I still am in my career is to provide for my family.
How do you all feel about this?
Thanks

[Sven]

To start with, guilt is unproductive. It is a decision to feel guilty and a desicion to stop. (there may be a lot of grey inbetween which I will not go in to).

Maybe it is expected of you to PAY for the family. In that case changing lifestyle may be difficult. If you have a lot of debt, it'll be even harder to change.

But in the end love, food and feeling safe is more important than money by itself. If you can see money as a means to an end and not the ultimate goal you may find that you can give a lot in other ways than just doing work for money.

But you probably need to go there together with the family.

Good luck!

[urban renewal]

I don't know exactly what your job or situation is, but I've noticed that people can live on surprisingly little money.

Back when I was working an office job, all my friends liked to compare salaries. So-and-so makes $50k. Did you hear whats-his-face is making $60k. I felt kind of inadequate and poor making only $40k.

I graduated grad school last year with only $10k to my name. There are no jobs around and I've been making ends meet somehow with savings and affiliate marketing in Seattle (which many people believe is a very expensive city).

I really think that it would benefit you to ditch the guilt that you need to work full-time to make $X/year or whatever. I'm sure if nothing else, you could go down to half-time or whatever and take a pay cut. That would give you more time to do the things that you love.

In America, we tend to get caught up with wasting money. It is not necessary to blow $40 or $50 buying dinner and drinks at Applebees or buy a $97 ab crunching gadget that you only use 3 times before you throw it in the closet for 5 years.

You'll of course need to talk with your family about this. I'm sure they want you to be happy and fulfilled in life. And if that means cutting back on work and selling the BMW to do things that give your life meaning and purpose, then I'm sure they will probably support you.

Plus, if you have any kids, imagine the wonderful example you'll be setting for them. You'll teach them to follow their dreams and to not merely be career lemmings.

[jtwilber]

"However I am dissatisfied with job. Mainly because it seems boring and pointless. Tim's book really appeals to me in that I tend to be more creative. I have been a musician and woodworker for a long time, however not professionally. My full time job is anything but creative."

Sound to me like you're on the track to teaching your kids to settle for work you dont love and repress the gift of creativity you have. My kids have called me on this before when I push them to discover what they love. " Gee Dad, do you love what YOU do?".

Anyways, step one start doing more creative things nights, weekends, kill the time wasters. Think of ways to develop small side money with other creative projects. let you imagination out of the closet abit. Who knows where the path could lead. Don't settle, life is way to short.

Jonathan

[EditorDude]

Perhaps you should look for someone who is in a similar situation as you, ie a family man, that has already made this sort of transition successfully and begin talking with them about how they did it.

Then you can start thinking about planning how to get from where you are now to where you want to be in a scheduled, practical and safe way.