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I can't find an answer to what makes me "me"

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  • #142507
    Roy Phang
    Participant

    I know it sounds dumb, but here’s the thing: I’m in my 40s, never had a stable job or career. I’m currently employed but after 16 years of working, I still feel like I haven’t accomplished anything in life.

    I lack financial stability. I’ve tried controlling my expenditures, yet despite what I have tried in those self-help books, I still find myself broke at the end of every month. I would very much love to start my own business and do something I think I am good at  and enjoy, but the problem is always the same: I lack capital, and no one will invest my ideas because I’m a nobody.

    I’m married to a wonderful woman who has stood by all good times and bad, yet I can’t figure why I cheat. Not proud of it, yet there it is.

    I wish I could start my life all over, and really, I can’t find answers to what my life means, where I am headed, or what I can do.

    There are times when I have really dark notions in my head. I’m not suicidal, yet equally, I feel angry, I feel destructive, I feel depressed, and I just want to shut the world out.

    I need help. Anyone?

    #142573
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Roy Phang:
    You started your post with: “I know it sounds dumb”-

    Who said you are dumb, who gave you that message, at an early age, and how was that message expressed to you?

    anita

    #142909
    CB3
    Participant

    Roy Phang,

    I agree with Anita, starting out saying “it sounds dumb” sets an interesting tone to your inquiry.  I imagine you don’t actually believe that you’re dumb but needed a jumping point to start the thoughts flowing.  Most of us feel the need to qualify what we are about to say with “I know this may sound……(interject any number of adjectives)” to lessen the impact of our words or to bring down the expectation of our actions, but we don’t actually regard ourselves as dumb, per se.

    Nonetheless, feeling unstable in one aspect of life can often bleed over into every part of life.  In your case, you make clear that financially you have often felt shorted, unfulfilled with employment and desire to branch out on your own and take up entrepreneurship.  Is there anyway to ease into your prospect?  Work your normal job and start seeking out your venture a bit at a time with minimal financial capital?  Possibly sacrificing one luxury to kick start your venture might be well within your means but over shadowed, ie. cut ties with your cable bill and go to antenna tv and take the $120 you would pay for that each month and invest in your ideas.

    I think the more concerning issue here is your marital issues.  Collectively, most people in their mid 30’s to 40’s start taking a hard look at their life’s trajectory.  We become increasing more critical of what we have or have not accomplished, whether or not we have become or feel successful in our endeavors, whether we have achieved or are actually happy with our lives.  It is clear from reading your post that you seem either very numb to your life circumstances or very unfulfilled.  Cheating on a spouse points more to later of the two, in my opinion.  You want to seek out new opportunities but are afraid to let go of what you believe is “stable”.  Comfort is complacency.  If you felt as secure and happy with  your spouse, you wouldn’t stray.  Your spouse has become your life raft, your comfort, and a side product of how you feel in your ventures up to this point, a failed effort which no one wants to invest (including you).

    Dark thoughts happen to us all, not everyone can positive 100% of the time.  It is how we deal with those thoughts, the feelings and emotions that make the difference.  I don’t care who you are, the more you push away how you feel, what you think, and try to disengage the more epic the eruption will be when it all comes to a boiling point.  Be honest with yourself and try to be forthcoming with how your dealing with yourself.  Typically others are more understanding, dare I say, on the same page emotionally and ideologically than we give credit.

    So, as long as this response may be Roy Phang, please know your not alone.  We have all been in your shoes and understand some or all what your experiencing. I hope some of my thoughts and responses help.  Best of luck in all your future endeavors , with your spouse, and with all you try and accomplish.

     

    #143197
    Inky
    Participant

    Hi Roy Phang,

    I believe what you need is a Mission in Life. Men are told to make money. Couples are told to be faithful. So when you aren’t solvent or faithful you feel badly about yourself. Cheating is a symptom of trying to find fulfillment. Because of the belief that you aren’t making money so you need to fill the perceived void.

    There’s a Shaker (Quaker?) song “Tis a Gift to be Simple”. Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free, tis a gift to come down where you ought to be. And when you find yourself in this place just right you’ll be in a place of love and delight… YouTube it.

    Live within your means. Stay true to your wife. And find a faith or spiritual community, and/or a cause you can help with.

    Blessings,

    Inky

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