"Here's a lesson to test your mind's mettle: take part of a week in which you have only the most meager and cheap food, dress scantily in shabby clothes, and ask yourself if this is really the worst that you feared. It is when times are good that you should gird yourself for tougher times ahead, for when Fortune is kind the soul can build defenses against her ravages. So it is that soldiers practice maneuvers in peacetime, erecting bunkers with no enemies in sight and exhausting themselves under no attack so that when it comes they won't grow tired." —SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 18.5-6
I’m a firm believer that those who were born with very little wealth and few luxuries have a distinct advantage over everybody else in one aspect—they know how to survive and be happy with less. The final phase of this crypto bull market is now well underway and, potentially, bringing with it a massive transfer of wealth. Those who’ve had the patience and courage to hodl during this strange, chaotic, and unpredictable market and, most importantly, have the discipline to take profits when they should will be rewarded handsomely.
With the Federal Reserve rumored to announce a possible rate cut next week, this could be the rocket fuel needed for the next leg up. Considering this, I thought there was no better time to talk about preparing on a sunny day or voluntary adversity.
Over time, the warmth and comfort of the luxury/wealth bubble has a way of lulling you to sleep and a false sense of security that can make you less resilient and more vulnerable in many ways. When our lives become easier we must purposefully incorporate difficult things into our routines to help offset all the different forms of atrophy that an easier life inherently brings with it.
Despite how many zeros we have in our accounts, doing hard things can be extremely beneficial to us—especially as we age. Fasting, a comprehensive physical exercise regime, or living with less serve are great ways to keep us grounded, foster mental toughness and maintain a sense of gratitude. By intentionally stepping away from the insulation and trappings of wealth, individuals can foster a deeper appreciation for what they have. This philosophy can also help us fuel the hunger that drives us to achieve, preventing complacency and providing a sense of purpose beyond money. The hedonic treadmill can also be the fast track to unhappiness and poverty.
Voluntary adversity also has a way of keeping our senses of humility, self-awareness, and empathy sharp. These qualities can begin to fade away once wealth creates distance from normal, everyday struggles. If you need real world examples of this look no further than our politicians and celebrities that seem to have completely lost touch with the struggles of the real world. For the newly wealthy, choosing to endure discomfort helps us to maintain our connection with the human condition.
At 54 years of age I’ve incorporated the discipline of voluntary adversity into my daily routine in a variety of ways. Here are a few of them I can think of off the top of my head:
Physical
- Full 50lb kettlebell workout, four days a week.
- 20 min of rowing six days a week.
- Navy Seal Burpees every day.
- 16,000 step goal per day.
- 5 min cold shower each morning.
- 20-30 mins of sunlight a day (weather permitting).
- Limit processed foods, sugar, seed oils.
- Prioritize 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
“Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.” ― Edgar Allan Poe
Mental/Psychological
- Write at least an hour a day.
- Meditate for 30 minutes per day.
- Read for an hour a day.
- Listen to 30 minutes of podcasts each day while doing cardio.
- Only allow people of good character inside my inner circle.
- Choose one new thing a year to learn and attempt one thing that scares me.
- List a new set of goals annually. Reward myself when I achieve them.
- Don’t watch network news or any mainstream media.
- Limit time around overly negative people.
- Find at least one thing that makes me laugh a day.
“You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching. March to the beat of your own drummer. And stubbornly refuse to fit in.” ― Mandy Hale
Financial
- Donate an item of clothing for every new piece of clothing purchased.
- Larger, non-essential, personal purchases should be limited to rewards for achieving a milestone or a major accomplishment.
- Donate to charity and pay it forward when the opportunity arises.
- Limit purchases of depreciating assets.
- Create as many revenue streams as possible.
- Invest a portion of your net worth to build an economic-engine that creates more wealth.
- Celebrate financial milestones.
- Don't go into debt for anything if you don't have to.
- Pay off credit cards each month and use rewards cards that pay you.
- Give others the inheritance of useful information instead of money.
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
It’s always important to remember that Health, Freedom, and Peace of Mind are the ultimate luxury and worth much more than almost anything else in this world. Achieving then working to preserve our Health, Freedom, and Peace of Mind should be our top priority and highest goal. Afterall, what good is a Rolex watch if you need it to make sure you’re back to your cubicle on time? What good is an expensive car if you have to work two jobs to pay for it? How great is an impressive job title if the job makes you miserable?
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is if we embrace adversity there's a much better chance that we'll survive prosperity.
All for now. Thanks for reading.
Some good ideas in here Eric, and many of us have been schooled in the survival game. Wealth for instance has no meaning to me, as at my age what would I do with it? Pump it into Papillon of course, so that we can launch more projects to help the poor in the communities. I read the reply by @bozz and it's the same here, as I also never had a brand-new car. Second low mileage cars make more sense to me. We have no debts which is a blessing, as I avoid it at all costs, and if I need anything, I will rather save up so that I can buy it cash. I don't have a watch or a mobile phone, and I live in my own little world, of my own creation.
As far as physical is concerned, at my age, I can only keep on walking until I can no more.
Such is life.
!BEER
Thanks! It sounds like you are living the life most people imagine with they think of wealth—you've achieved that special kind of freedom most people are searching for.
I think wealth beyond a certain degree is ruinous for a lot of people unless they decide not to hoard it and do good with it.
I've only had two new cars in my life, an '89 Geo Tracker and my '22 Tesla Model 3. My Tesla is probably my last new car unless there are tax incentives that are too good to pass by. Cars are one of the worst black holes for money, except for maybe boats and planes.
Only by grace my friend, as one's journey on this planet is short, but so many think that they will live forever. My motto is to keep things as simple as I can.
You are right, and if it's hoarded for the purposes of a good cause, then it will be so much the better.
Last year we bought a used VW Polo from a car rental company with only 40K on the clock. And it will have to last for many years, as it's light on gas. Not the most comfortable as I am over 6 ft and have to fold myself in half to get behind the wheel, but it is what it is.
I mainly bought it for the wife, in case I depart from this planet, as she is much shorter than me, and then she won't have to sit with no transport.
!BEER
Amen. It goes so quickly! Simplicity is definitely best. It makes me feel great when I can donate or get rid of things.
We don't have the VW Polo here in the US. I saw them when we were in Ireland though. They're decent cars. It's tough to find good small economy cars here in America today. My Mom has a 2016 Honda Fit (Jazz in other parts of the world) and the thing is a marvel of engineering but they discontinued it in the US market a few years ago. I think the Fit was stealing too many of Honda's small SUV sales in this country and that was the reason for its demise.
Always such a good personal feeling when one can donate something to a worthy cause.
The VW Polos are very easy to drive, and they are very popular over here.
I did not know about the issues between the Fit and Honda, and obviously Honda would have protected their sales. I think that the Jazz was also discontinued here in South Africa.
!BEER
I agree! It also feels good to shed extra stuff too.
The Fit/Jazz is an excellent little car. It's even sold as a hybrid in Japan and parts of Europe.
Maybe a new Fit/Tazz will be launched soon, and an electrical version would be ideal.
!BEER
I never really needed anything growing up, but I never had the latest and greatest stuff. I didn't really mind it and I have felt the same as an adult. Sure, there are things I would like, but I usually talk myself out of them. I've never owned a brand new vehicle and I am not sure if I ever will. Our travel trailer is probably the only new vehicle I have ever purchased. I think these are good things to live by. I hope as my time frees up in the future i can devote ore of it to exercise.
We had the same kind of childhood. We were probably what would be considered lower middle class but we never felt like we were missing out on anything and were generally happy. Looking back I'm very grateful that I grew up that way. I used to hash over purchases and was notorious for putting things into shopping carts and then putting them back onto the shelf before I left the store. Now if there's something I really want I'll think about it for a while and then wait to reward myself with it for a achieving a goal or milestone. At 54 you begin to realize there's no time like the present. Thanks for your comment!
Yeah, my wife and I have a pretty good understanding that if something is below a certain threshold we just go ahead and buy it. It's a pretty low number and it keeps us from going crazy. It's actually pretty rare we buy stuff under the threshold too. Clothes are probably the biggest thing, but we always donate our old stuff to the store my brother in law runs.
It's so good to be on the same page with that kind of stuff!
I’m a firm believer that those who were born with very little wealth and few luxuries have a distinct advantage over everybody else in one aspect—they know how to survive and be happy with less.
You have described me. Even though I can now afford to buy new clothes, I only buy from thrift stores or yard sales, it is how I have lived my entire adult life.
While working as a waitress and going to school to learn a trade, I was so poor that all I could afford to buy to eat was a bag of flour and a jar of jelly. I mixed flour and water to make whole cakes to fry, and put the jelly on them. I ate this for months. It was tough times, but I was never unhappy with my struggles.
Being a fisherman and raising 5 kids was also a struggle, they did not have much, but they never went hungry.
I have found that no matter how bad things are, I can and will survive. I appreciate what I now have.
That sounds like it was a time of struggle for you! I'm glad you were never unhappy during those times. I had some very lean years in early adulthood but was always lucky to have the basic necessities. Some weeks we had to plan down to the penny though.
Looking back I have no idea how my parents raised my brother and I on what my Dad made. My Mom went to work after we were teenagers but neither of them made much but they never went too far into debt. They were smart with what they made though and always made it stretch. Growing up like that gives you a different perspective and really does make you appreciate what you have later in life. Most importantly, like you said, once you've lived through it you know you can and aren't as afraid as someone who's had everything they want.
How true this post @ericvancewalton personally, I believe that behavior is governed by our beliefs; that is where the program that governs our lives lies. Sometimes they empower us or hold us back; it is up to each of us to make decisions that bring us closer to living according to our convictions.
I totally agree with the priorities: health, freedom, peace of mind. Although trusting and cultivating peace has helped me get through adverse situations. In countries like mine (Venezuela), everyday life is a constant uncertainty that keeps us looking for solutions. I recognize that we have learned to be resilient and to enjoy ourselves despite everything, and that is a gain!
As a society, we have a long way to go, but we have learned a lot from “adversity.”
I respect and admire the discipline of adversity that you apply in your life...best regards!
Thank you! It has to have been tough in Venezuela since Maduro took office. There is a lot of truth in that phrase tough times create strong people. I hope things get better in your country soon. The economy is pretty bad here in the US but nothing like what you've had to endure.
I fall into that category. We made the best with what we had, and although I thought it would have been nice to have a prettier wardrobe, I never longed for it. I was happy and content with my life because I was given an abundance of love, and that made me a happy person.
Helping others came naturally, and when we ran the B&B, hubby and I could help even more people. I learnt after hubby passed away, just how many people he helped without saying anything to me. People knew they could call on us for help; some still do, even if it's just for advice.
I see how some big earners are always buying newer and bigger; the latest cars, electronic goods, sports gear, etc, etc, yet they already have the best of everything. But sadly, they will turn a blind eye when someone else is in need.
I say yes to all your suggestions, and already implement some, but will strive for more!
We can help build a better place for the world around us.
It sounds like you had an abundance of what really matters! That must've been a wonderful thing to learn about your husbands acts of kindness. That's the best legacy a person can leave.
The hedonic treadmill is the worst! So many people fall into that trap and then neither appreciate or enjoy anything they have, they're always fixated on the next great thing that will make them "happy".
When helping others—how did you and your husband determine who really needed help and who were looking for a handout?
We helped people we knew were struggling, but still made the best with what they had, proud people who did not expect any handouts. We always tried to do it subtly, but hubby was the expert;) One example is when he paid for someone's driving school lessons; I only found out later. I still try to help where I can, not always in the form of monetary help, but in many other ways.
That is just so sad! But that's exactly what it is, empty lives, really!
That sounds like a good way to approach it! : ) I try to help in other ways too. I'd rather try to teach people things so they become more self-sufficient. Giving, when it's not anonymous, can be such a slippery slope.
It is sad! It's created such a merry-go-round of consumerism.
I'm a huge fan of voluntary adversity. It doesn't mean that I have more money, not at all, it's just that I'm not subscribing to the idea that money is a necessity. I wouldn't refuse it and I worry endlessly about it, and Im not cashed up at all. I'm just not good at finances. HOwever, I do believe in being frugal, because why work your ass off to spend money as a sole purpose in life? That's what it feels like sometimes. The more you work, the more you spend. So in times of plenty, I'd rather squirrel away so I have some put aside for actual bad times, because you should know it's always around the corner!
I also like the term 'frugal hedonism' - there's richness to be enjoyed from frugal habits.
I'm a big fan too. I see so many, especially from the younger generations, that are spoiled and entitled. A lot of people maintain the appearance of a middle class life through credit. Sooner or later the piper has to be paid. For me, freedom is always the highest priority. It makes a person feel so good to know they can meet their expenses have a little something set aside for a rainy day. I've never heard the term frugal hedonism before but I like it!
If this next wave of economic growth sparked by AI/Robotics is managed properly by governments people will no longer have to worry about basic necessities. I think in the decades to come we'll be gradually transitioning away from a scarcity-based economy/life into some form of UBI—that is if the tech doesn't go rogue on us. It'll be so interesting to witness how humanity navigates this societal change and divorce themselves from the idea that how we earn our money is what/who we are.
Choosing to focus on the financial side of this:
I choose to focus on the paying off credit cards part of this. Reward credit cards are so fantastic for those who are rigidly paying them off every month and using the rewards as another form of compounded savings.
There are so many financial "instruments" that are just that - instruments. Some can be used to make beautiful music, while in the wrong hands, they'll create a cacophony of pain and sensory feedback loops that lead to less and less joy. :)
I have some kettle bells at home, but I still prefer the gym, nothing beats a bar for heavy squats. But, there's an opportunity for me to save some money in the future - money saved is a revenue stream, after all - provided that money doesn't go anywhere else.
The first day I was redundant from my old corpo job (I'm still searching for a new one!) I converted my budget spreaadsheet into a web app so that I could lessen by dependence on Excel.
Time is money. Money is time, therefore, why didn't any budget tool do that?
I've got a runway, and aa "worst case scenario" calc (not expecting future income) which tells me how long I can last without anything new.
I wrote a post about it a little while ago.
https://holoz0r.github.io/MM/
Hopefully others can find the tool useful as well.
What you say about credit is so true. It's all in how you use it. Cash back rewards can be a pretty good revenue stream. Just paying for monthly expenses with my cards I can usually earn between $50-$80 a month in rewards and I roll that into BTC at the end of every billing statement. I'm astonished by how quickly it's grown—partially because I began at the beginning of a bull market.
I don't do much heavy lifting at my age but used to love my free weights when I was younger. I do goblet squats with my 50lb kettlebell and that keeps the legs strong enough.
That sounds like a wonderful idea for a budgeting app—one that takes into account the time factor. Thanks for the links! I'll be sure to read your post and check out the other link later today. Speaking of building leg muscles...I have to carry 70lb boxes of floor tile from the garage into the house. Lol.
I hope the tiles didn't de(feet) (heh) you too badly. We have a bunch of spare tiles in the garage, and those boxes are the best - they're full of heavy, fragile stuff, the carboard is fickle, and they're often stored in environments were the glue holding the box together is likely to fail due to the ingress of heat or humidity.
A perfect exercise in anxiety and risk management.
I too, will be ageing at some point (probably sooner and faster than I'd like) - I am curious, do you have any resources you used when starting out with kettlebell exercises?
I'd love to benefit from your research as opposed to doing my own :P
Thankfully it worked out great yesterday! No smashed toes! : ) A few boxes had almost disintegrated and were coming open though. This tile was made in Indonesia so the boxes were worse for the wear.
If you've never delved into the research on benefits of kettlebell exercises I'd highly recommend it. It gives you the advantage of cardio and strength training at once.
When I started I used this video:
Then I worked up to this one (when I have more time):
What I would advise is to start lighter (25-35lbs) in the beginning so you can concentrate on form. Form is everything when using kettlebells but I'm sure you already know that from using free weights. Even the basic kettlebell swing is deceptively simple—it's easy to get distracted and lapse into improper form.
What surprised me most about these workouts is how much real-world strength they give you and how quickly you begin to see results. My Vo2 Max score has also gotten way better since starting. I hope this helps!
Thank you! I've done a bit of kettlebell stuff in circuits / classes years ago, but it will definitely be a cheaper option than an ongoing gym membership in future (and one that takes up far less space than a rack and a bench)
The real world strength is exactly what I am after :)
My pleasure. I like the simplicity of the kettlebell too. If you go on an extended road trip all you really need to bring is that one piece of equipment.
I have read each of the comments and I have been very moved by them. Awaking feelings, sincerity, and especially reflection in your readers is the best way to see the role you are playing on this platform. I identify with many of the comments: as a child, I never felt unhappy for not having the best things, and that made me appreciate everything I have in my adulthood and, secondly, not desire more than what I can have. I try to lead a quiet, simple life, without much embellishment: a life to my measure. Because everyone lives their own life and puts it on themselves. I send you a hug of gratitude, friend.🫂
Thank you Nancy! Every now and then I'm reminded why I love this platform so much and the comments on this post are one of those instances. It seems like quite a few people from our generation (X) grew up in similar ways, doesn't it? It seems like the appearance of abundance we have now with many people (especially in the US) is a fairly recent construct. I see school age children now with iPhones and designer clothes we'd never dream of being able to have when we were their age. It all comes so easily to them many of them take it all for granted. The simple life is the best life, my friend! I'd be perfectly satisfied spending my extra income on traveling instead of buying "things". I wish you a wonderful week!
Wow! That workout routine of yours is amazing! Almost too challenging and limiting sugar sounds like an insurmountable challenge for me :)
Thanks! It took many years to build up to this. It’s dialed in pretty well now to maintain strength, fitness, and weight. Sugar is very difficult to cut back on but I tell you once you change your gut microbiome you won’t crave it nearly as bad. Sugar causes so much inflammation in the body. It’s incredible how much better you feel when you limit it.
I am fairly happy with my fitness routine, though it is nowhere near what you are doing, so sugar will be my next big challenge, I think that is where my biggest health gains can be made. I eat fairly healthy with the exception of sugar, we always have every kind of amazing desert you can think of, so temptation is great...
That's awesome! As long as you're happy with your fitness level that's what's important. Once you start to scale back on refined sugars the insulin spikes/drops and dopamine release will become less severe and it'll get much easier. I incorporated a few squares of dark chocolate every day and that really helps satisfy the cravings—fresh fruit is helpful too. After a while you'll notice desserts you used to crave will be revoltingly sweet. Swapping out sugar for healthy fats is helpful too - avocado, full fat grass-fed dairy, MCT oil coffee creamers.
#hive #posh