What is 'the good life' in the modern world? What&

>>9805439
epicureanism

Good friends, good food, good books, good wine.

And minimal technology.

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I'm a sad, lonely man trying to get his shit back together, with personality that makes him unable to be liked or loved, extremely egocentric and unable to focus on anyone else's needs. Now, tell me, what can I do to get out of my misery apart from devoting my life to career or killing myself? What things that aren't money can be meaningful for such a petty life like mine?

>>9805439
I finished school for Finance. I still haven't gotten a big break in the biz, and honestly I don't think I'm going to try.
I had a 3.5 GPA.
Started a business club at my Uni.
Started a stock mentoring and practice game through an online platform and generated 25% returns within the first 2 months.
Etc. etc. etc.

I worked sales and contract work for a bit right after and I was prepped to take and pass my CFA lvl 1 as well as my Series 6,7 and 63. After a few blunders of not getting interviews at some major finance firms I realized that although I didn't hate finance, I hated the prospect of me working corporate.

My father has spent the last 30 years working with his hands. Doing technician work. He doesn't make a lot, but he's am aster at his craft, and if his English and personal skills were better we would be millionaires for sure.

I'm working with him now. It's not a passion but it's made me realize fancy things and titles are cool, but everyone with them is miserable.

One of my buddies works in asset management for a major investment firm and last year he netted 200k +. He hates his life.

I'm still really young. Turn 25 next month. But clocks ticking and I'm trying to figure out if I just want to travel, cook, work with my hands, be a sailor, soldier etc. etc. and be broke but happy. Or suck it up for a few years and go corporate.

>21
>doing a degree I don't want (don't want any degree at all)
>will probably have some career in a job I will wake up looking forward to death, just as I do to go to college

no idea wtf I am going to do...having a simple job may do for a simple life single, but with a family it is not possible

>>9805439
>>If you have the mental focus and self-discipline to be successful in the dominant society,
well according to the two years since graduation in which i haven't even been able to find full-time employment, i have neither. nevertheless his suggestion resonates with me, at times. often i think that all i desire is merely something to pay the bills, something that ends the moment i clock out, something that grants me enough luxury time to pursue my hobbies and see my friends and won't eat away all of my time or make me miserable. but i'm also a deeply insecure individual often overcome with what feels like a need to prove myself to my peers. so idk.

I'm getting a degree in mechanical engineering and my dream job would be working 20 hours a week and making enough to live comfortably without excess material goods so I can focus on my reading and writing. But I know I'll probably get stuck at some company where I'm expected to work 50 hours a week

>>9805466

Your words are like a mirror upon my very soul.

Do nothing to save yourself my dear man, abandon it. Do not fix the leaking roof, but leave the house.

Imbue your life with escorts, wines, lit, and art. Release your grip on hope, a fool's game.

>>9806006
Is that what you're doing?

>>9805448
Epicureanism.

A select amount of good friends, moderate amounts of pleasurable food and drink, and a life outside the city where one can indulge in inquiry.

>>9805439
School makes me miserable, dropped out after 1 year. The prospect of work makes me miserable and I have no interest in any sort of job that requires things of me without my choice in the matter, or anything that I can't change at my will. Currently living with parents, but lately I've been seriously considering just walking away from home and just walking, anywhere, as far as I can go. I live in NYC so I could walk around the city and be homeless, or I could leave the city. Absolute freedom, that's what I yearn for. I'm still too scared to pursue any of my wishes right now, but I feel it building, and it's been steadily building since two years ago when I quit school.

I'm figuring out what I'm going to do by just living. In the past several months I've grappled with quitting weed, getting off the computer, reading more, spending more time outside, getting a gf, finding peace of mind in meditation and contemplation, and learning about religions and spirituality.

I feel like I'm doing a good job, and I'm currently in an awesome relationship with my neighbor, I've read 20 or so books over the past year, been going for walks and runs for an hour twice a day, meditating every day, doing exercises at home, etc.

Now I just need to figure out what to do next. I've gotten out of the rut I was in during and after I quit school. I need some new direction because my current situation can only benefit me for so long, and I know it's not enough. Hopefully in the fall I'll be able to figure something out. Still anxious and depressed a lot of the time, still smoking weed, although I managed to quit for a few months in the spring. We'll see, we'll see.

>>9805439
I find that this question itself blunts the wonders you have within. this need to conclude something and have it happen one way? idk
if anyone else is here to continue this discussion that would be great.

>>9806348
Can you expand on that? I don't think there needs to be a 'conclusion' about what life is the best life, but one has to make choices about how to live--what standard of the good life do you have in mind when you make those choices?

>>9806389
yes, concluding isn't necessary but this thing happens again and again where there is some sort fleeting sensational realization which is then formulated into choices that do not last.

This idea of having a good life leads to comparisons with vague images of others' experiences and takes away from feedback one has with oneself through their work or however else one spends their time.

>>9806426
That's a good point, thanks

>>9805439
Thanks for posting that essay, I really enjoyed it.

I try to live the good life by adhering to some principles I've been taught by my parents. I try to cook everything I can from scratch and buy only raw ingredients, try to fix or build everything myself, help people whenever possible by sharing or aiding, try to learn skills, and spend time and money only on neccecary or productive things.

I'm obviously not perfect, I'll sometimes buy some McDonald's or a pack of cigs, or make an excuse not to help a friend, but I'm getting there.

>>9806261
I was in the same place. Quitting weed really helps. Even just 3 months of not smoking will reduce cravings and make you more productive.

I just try to live the healthy humble NEET life without being a cunt and be helpful to friends and family where I can. I guess it approaches some sort of Epicureanism.

Haven't found a better way to live yet, never had any worldly ambitions desu.

Fuck b*tches. get money.

If you're <30 and not wealthy, it's irresponsible to choose the comfy life. You'll get BTFO by automation in your lifetime.

You have to move to the nearest big city and try to claw your way up the cyberpunk dystopia. Ideally, you find some friends and start a tech venture of some kind. (Doesn't have to follow the SV model.)

As for how to cope with living in the cyberpunk dystopia without going insane or depressed, I'm still working on it, but I'd focus on health, people and money. (Spend the money on health and people.)

fuck hos get money

I'm going to be working for breadline three times a week. Now that I think of it it's the only remotely "good" thing I'll be doing for years. Did not choose it because of that but because it was the best option available to keep getting my benefits. Wonder if it'll do me any good.

>>9807789
No