When you feel stuck in a job you hate it is easy to just throw in the towel and start living a life filled with complacency.
You start to settle in all aspects of your work, finances, and life.
You start living someone else’s “Dream Life” instead of your own.
When people ask you “how you are doing?” you respond on autopilot with a boring:
“I’m fine, thanks.”
Wake Up!
If this is you, it is time to wake up.
Not that long ago I was in the same situation. I had spent all of my adult years pursuing what “the authorities” in my life told me I should want.
A complete resumé. Comfortable job. Prestigious degrees. Good health insurance. 401k match. A mortgage. 2.5 kids.
It wasn’t until I really sat down and realized that none of those things were as important to me as happiness that I started to take more risks like quitting my job and going on a three month road trip.
Luckily I was able to distill this on my own, but the awareness of this phenomenon of “settling” needs to be explored further and shared with people that are “stuck” to inspire them to change their lives for the better.
Enter “I’m Fine, Thanks”
My friend Adam Baker of Man Vs. Debt, alongside Crank Tank Studios, has been hard at work on a documentary that is almost complete called “I’m Fine, Thanks“. The 5 person film crew drove all over the U.S. to interview over 60 people about the “complacency problem” in our society.
From their Kickstarter page: “It’s a collection of stories about life, the choices we all make, and the paths we ultimately decide to follow.
We examine the factors that motivate and drive our major life choices. And, most importantly, whether or not the path we follow through life - and the habits we form based on that path - are truly connected with who we really are as individuals.
This is a movie about the moment people realize the life they’re living is not the life that’s true to their heart… and, as a result, what they decide to do about it!”
Here’s the trailer for the “I’m Fine, Thanks” documentery on Kickstarter.
(Click here to see the video if you are viewing this via email or RSS.)
If you think that complacency is a bigger problem than most people and mainstream media will admit, then I encourage you to back this project on Kickstarter.
They have already reached their $100,000 goal with a few days to spare, but every $5 helps brings their message to a bigger audience.
Note: There is also a great interview with Adam Baker today over on Think Traffic.
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I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that this project directly resonates with.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Caleb, you are so right about the complacency issue. I was fortunate to have a job I loved as a firefighter and never had a day where I didn’t want to be at the job. When I worked as a Fire Inspector for the town I saw in the eyes of the factory workers the look of dreams left unfulfilled. They toil away at a job that has no future to live someone elses dream. I really think they fall into the T.V., tied to a paycheck, and no one to inspire them trap.
I loved to meet the owners of the business and hear their story on how they started and did not settle for a factory life.
Thanks Paul. I don’t think there is anything wrong with someone being completely satisfied by their life and what they have being ‘good enough’, but when they are unhappy, they need to quit settling.
I donated, and I’m really looking forward to seeing this movie, too! Very impressed with Baker’s work as well!
I’m stoked as well. I think the message is really important.
One of the scariest things in the world to me is complacency.
I guess I am kind of lucky because a few years back I had a job that made me want to punch myself in the face. It was so bad I had no option but to figure out another path for my life.
Which ended me up in Japan trying to become a ninja. I will definitely check out the project.
I love that you took the leap to avoid the complacency. Reminds me of this quote:
“Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman
Complacency is the result of homeostasis. When we reach that point in our lives, we’re just coasting. We become used to the routine and any deviation causes stress. So, in a way, our own body & mind punish us for breaking the norm with stress.
I enjoy a nice challenge to slap me in the face and wake me up from time to time.
Perfect. Challenges wake us up and keep us motivated.
Your life should be simple, but not easy.