What motivates you to wake up everyday and work?

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Red
I was just thinking about how the majority of people in our country (world?) wake up everyday and work to accumulate cash and material wealth in order to gain some temporary material happiness. And how they keep stressing themselves more and more in order to gain even more / better / newer material items because they quickly become bored and unhappy with their present state. And then they die.

Are people just ignorant and never realize that money will never make them happy? Or do some people realize that money won't make them happy but they go ahead and subscribe to the American Dream and work hard their entire life to perpetuate a materialistic lifestyle to themselves and their children? I just don't get it.

People are raised in America, at least I was, with the idea that your existence is a measurement of how "successful" you are in terms of wealth or education, etc. My parents always pressured me to succeed so one day I'll be able to make a lot of money and live comfortably. They tell you the same thing in school.

I'm still trying to figure out what makes me happy, but I know money doesn't do it. Yet I still wake up every morning and drag my ass to school and work because it's hard to resist the flow of capitalistic greed in our society.

I dimly recall feeling like that in my early 20's before I had car payments, mortgage payments, regular grocery bills, and 2 dogs, 10 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 3 turtles all looking for food and care each day. That pretty much sums up my motivation.

 

[woowoo]

No broadband at home.....

 

[Danman]

Hmmm....good question.

I would have to say the following:

1. My fiance
2. The money I get every other Friday in my account from my job
3. Just the little fun we have

It's like a weekly cycle for me I think, it's not daily like it used to be. Same ol sh!t every week, just different week. I just know I have to keep on doing this if I want a good future. So, I keep on doing it. Week after week.

By the time I know it, I will be done with school and have a degree in something I love doing. Then it just keeps on going, but I have to look at the good things I do have in my life.

 

[jjones]

I work for the sole pleasure of contributing to society in a meaningful way. Oh, and I guess I should add that homelessness and starvation sometimes play a small factor in motivating me.

 

[Mani]

Love the job
Love the money
Love the experience
Love the women



(ok so I was lying about the last part)

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Right now I'm in school and love it, so waking up every day is a chance to meet new people, work to earn cash, and learn about things that I can only learn about by being a fun-loving college student.

My eventual goal is to be a law enforcement officer, and I predict waking up each day will be easy; there's a chance that every day I'll be able to save someone's life, keep a bad person off the street, or get someone help who needs it.

🙂

or die, that's always great too.

 

[Nanotech]

Originally posted by: eLiu

Originally posted by: oniq

Originally posted by: Xiety
I have goals, that's what.

Then you die, so what was the point?

wtf...if you want to think like that, why don't you kill yourself now? Because clearly, by your logic, your entire life is a waste--so stop living it.

Life is what you make of it. If you don't want to have money, sell all your crap and live as a homeless person. Your life would be drastically different, but maybe you'd be happy there. Otherwise...you work your 8 (or more/less) hours a day, pay the bills, and find enjoyment (temporary or lasting) where you can. If you've ever read Camus' twist on the Sisyphus story, then...learn to love your rock.

Basically, this gentleman is right. The way I look at it money does not bring happiness but it does help for some individuals. What makes me happy is simply being outdoors and more specifically in the wilderness away from modern society. Unfortunetly, I don't know that I possess the skills to simply live off the land nor do I have any abilities at the moment which would qualify me for a wilderness position that would pay my bills. Therefore, I work 40-50 hours a week so that I can own a few material things (nice car, nice bicycle, rock climbing gear, camping accessories...) that allow me to spend my free time where I most enjoy spending it. Very little in life is free and thus many of us must subscribe to the "successful" lifestyle so that we may enjoy our lives as much as possible.

However, there are many alternatives for those who do not wish to partake in Corporate America and if you feel you are one of those individuals than by all means begin to determine just where your happiness may come from. You do not need to get rid of all your wordly possessions and "live as a homeless person" simply because money does not bring you happiness. Look into the Peace Corps, Ameri Corps, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation or whatever organization may be out there that peaks your interest and apply for a position within one of them. In many cases not only will you most likely live a happier life but you will truely make a difference in this god for saken world and not have to worry about paying bills as housing and living expenses are often taken care of for full-time volunteers.😀

Best wishes and don't get down on yourself for not knowing what you want to do as very few of us ever really know. "Our life is what our thoughts make it. Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have."

 

[badmouse]

Work is what you do between the time you wake up and the time you go to sleep. It's up to you to decide whether you want to work for pay from 9-5 to fund your outside interests, or whether you want to work your main interest (may pay a lot, may necessitate a frugal lifestyle), or whether you want to fill those hours with something other than collecting a paycheck.

I think your question is really, what motivates you to work for that paycheck?

In my case it's my son's health bills, and then after that it's the game of trying to make enough money to support me the way I want, and have a decent time doing so.

There's also the subject of integrity. I think it's my responsibility to take care of myself and my family, and to help out others to the best of my ability/when they need it. The coin of the realm these days is money, so money-making it is.

 

[Whitecloak]

peer pressure

 

[PanzerIV]

Because sitting on my ass all day not doing anything while everybody else is working makes me feel like a worthless member of society. Plus, I like taking care of my family and paying the bills wheather I want to go into the office or not. I live for the weekend, sad as it may be, and everyday closer gives me more motiviation to finish the week out and get that paycheck and those two days off. 😉

 

[Jgtdragon]

Most everything requires money.
Ex: Gas requires $$$, so I can drive around and get to places. I need $$$ to get food.

No one will give you money, you have to work for it.

 

[dirtboy]

My motivation is simply being able to come back to the same place I woke up from!