Living an Examined Life: 8×3 Days + The Four Ashramas

In my early 20s I lived with a Costa Rican farmer. A seemingly healthy man with a happy disposition, I assumed he was approaching 50 years old but found out that he was 67.

When I asked how he was aging so gracefully despite the arduous work and long days in the sun, he responded with (translated):

“8hrs sleep. 8hrs work. 8hrs everything else.”

He continued in letting me know that his work was the highlight of his day.

Although I had this discussion at a time when I was unclear on my path and untethered from any major commitments, it stuck with me.

Breaking down the 8 x 3 day:

In a 24hr cycle, our days start and end with sleep. Sleep is arguably the most important self-care protocol for improving our overall health and we’ve written before about proven ways to improve sleep.

The 8hrs of “everything else” is a true catch-all that constitutes the fun (and not so fun) parts of life.

Laundry. Commuting. Grocery shopping. Meal prep. Household chores. Exercise. Personal care/hygiene. Relationships. Hobbies/Leisure activities. Education/Personal development. Doctor appointments. Shuttling kids.

The list goes on…

This leaves the final 8hr block – our 8hrs of “work.”

Work Matters

Over a lifetime, the average person will spend 90,000 hours working.

[Check our math: 40hrs/wk x 50wks/yr x 40yrs = 90,000hrs.]

Much of us begin our early working years from a place of scarcity – we have zero (or negative!) net worths and are beginning to build the financial foundation that later scaffolding can stand on.

Interestingly, as financial planners that partner with people of all ages and in a wide range of professions – technologists, engineers, salespeople, attorneys, artists, entrepreneurs and beyond – we’re always amazed by just how many routes there are to achieving financial independence.

Like Swizz Beatz said in a classic Jay-Z hit – there are “a million ways to get it, choose one.”

The Examined Life

Regardless of the track we pursue, it’s important for us to always be questioning our beliefs, values, and actions along the way. The goal for all of us, according to Socrates, is to live an examined life – one that is ethical, meaningful, and fulfilling.

Living an examined life begins with self-reflection, critical thinking, and a keen interest in understanding and improving one’s own life.

To neglect ever spending time marinating big existential questions (i.e. what is the meaning of life?) is to risk knocking on death’s door realizing you never truly lived, but merely existed, drifting through life without grappling with its deeper purpose or understanding your own potential and contributions.

Life’s Glide Path, According to Hinduism:

In Hinduism, there is a concept of the four ashramas. These four ashramas outline a framework for our spiritual and societal development through life.

1st Ashrama: Brahmacharya

Our young adult years are considered the first of the four ashramas known as Brahmacharya – or the “student” phase.

This stage is our first phase and lasts into young adulthood. It’s a phase of learning – experiencing life and building our arsenal of skills.

2nd Ashrama: Grihastha

Then comes Grihastha. This stage typically begins in our 20s, can last through our 40s, and is characterized by life events such as raising a family and contributing to society (typically through, you guessed it: work).

Grihastha is also the period with the most power, sex, and prestige (and typically the stage when people begin seeking financial advice 😉).

Many of us, due to the personal identity we form during this stage of life, attempt to make Grihastha last forever.

However, according to the principle of psychoprofessional gravitation, the more emotionally tied we are to our identity/status, the harder we will work and the further we will inevitably fall.

What to do?

We must evolve.

3rd Ashrama: Vanaprastha

This brings us to the third ashrama, Vanaprastha – or the stage at which we transition from household responsibilities to a period of retreat, self-reflection, and spiritual growth.

In contemporary society, the concept of Vanaprastha evokes the image of mentors or spiritual guides, akin to the role embodied by Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” serving as wise elders who impart knowledge and guidance to younger generations.

This stage is less about personal ambition and more about evolving from player to coach.

4th Ashrama: Sannyasa

If we’re able to move through these first three ashramas with time to spare, we have a chance to reach the ultimate ashrama: Sannyasa.

Sannyasa can be equated to enlightenment: no thoughts of worldly gain, complete inner peace.

Navigating Your Unique Journey

When reflecting on this Hindu glide path of life and how it relates to our 8hrs of “work,” the definition of “work” will vary depending on

a) where we’re at on the glide path

and

b) our unique gifts, skills, and interests.

However, with so many options and finite resources (time/health/money), the task of mapping out our life paths can become overwhelming and make it difficult to commit to a direction.

So, regardless of where you are at in your career/life, we’ve shared some prompts that we hope help to narrow down your next move:

  1. What activities make you lose track of time? This question can help uncover activities that you are deeply passionate about.
  2. Can you recall a project or task you worked on that you found incredibly satisfying? What made it so? This helps identify specific aspects of work that fulfill you, such as problem-solving, helping others, or creating something new.
  3. What subjects or issues do you find yourself drawn to repeatedly, whether in reading, conversation, or study? This question seeks to pinpoint your natural curiosities and interests that could inform your next move.
  4. What are three achievements (personal or professional) that you are particularly proud of? Why? Reflecting on your achievements can help identify your strengths and the types of challenges you enjoy tackling.
  5. What skills do others often commend you for? Bonus: Reach out to three friends, three family members, and three colleagues to hear their thoughts. This external perspective can highlight your natural talents and abilities that you might undervalue or overlook.
  6. If you had a completely free day with no obligations, how would you choose to spend it? Your answer can reveal your passions and interests more clearly, suggesting areas you might want to explore.
  7. What types of work environments do you thrive in? (e.g., collaborative teams, solo tasks, fast-paced settings) Understanding the environments in which you work best can help narrow down a path that matches your preferred speed/style.
  8. When you think about the next 5yrs, what values are most important to you? (e.g., flexibility, contribution to society, financial stability) Identifying your core values can guide you towards work that is not only fulfilling but also aligns with your life’s priorities.
  9. Are there any paths you’re curious about but haven’t explored? What’s holding you back? This question encourages you to consider unexplored areas and identify the fears or barriers preventing you from pursuing them.
  10. Reflecting on times you’ve felt professionally stuck or dissatisfied, what were the missing elements? Understanding what has made you unhappy or unfulfilled in past roles can help you avoid similar situations and seek out roles that better suit your needs and desires.

In the rhythm of life, the best we can do is strike a fine balance between our sleep, work, and… well… everything else.

In embracing this simplicity, we put ourselves in the best position to make each moment count with purpose and intention.

Through such mindful decisions, we can carve out a life that is richly and uniquely our own.

Fear Is A Helluva Drug

If you pay any attention to financial punditry, you will always be able to find someone making bold predictions about the US being on the brink of a recession, depression, or worse: societal collapse.

This makes sense as fearmongering is a monetizable strategy for media outlets, investment/insurance advisors, politicians, and many others.

The problem is, even for those of us trying to abstain from the negativity, it can be nearly impossible to ignore.

When zoomed in on the minutiae of a moment, we risk the doomsaying (or hype, on the other end of the spectrum) influencing our beliefs and actions.

Scary Statistics:

In recent history, the following statistics rattled many investors:

  • April 2020: the highest unemployment rate (14.8%) since data collection began in 1948.
  • June 2022: the highest inflation (9.1%) in 41 years.
  • October 2023: the highest average interest rate on a 30yr fixed rate mortgage (7.9%) since November 2000.

Any one of these three events on their own could instill fear.

But all three?! In just over three-years!?

Surely the sky must have fallen!

Flash forward:

  • January 2024: the US unemployment rate is 3.7% (vs. the long-term average of 5.7%).
  • January 2024: the US inflation rate is 3.1% (vs. the long-term average of 3.28%).
  • March 2024: the average interest rate on a 30yr fixed rate mortgage is 7.15%.

All of this while, just this month, the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Bitcoin all reached record highs.

And no, the point is not to look at life (and in this case, the economy + financial markets) through rose-colored glasses.

The point, broadly speaking, is about accepting the things beyond your control and understanding that reacting (often out of fear) is more detrimental than staying the course.

Timing the Market:

Fleeing from market volatility to the “safety” of a high-yield savings account feels good in the moment. It feels even better if you happen to be one of the extremely lucky ones that time it before a market correction.

Problem is, when do you reinvest the funds?

How do you time getting back in?

Do you reinvest all at once?

And how much upside did you miss while sitting on the sidelines?

Anticipation = Fear Inoculation:

Anticipating fearful situations can lessen the intensity of fear responses.

This makes intuitive sense.

For instance, if you’re aware that someone is hiding behind the curtain and is going to jump out at you, expecting it can diminish the shock and fear you might feel otherwise.

Therefore, anticipating less-than-ideal events can actually serve as a means to reduce the impact of fear.

Unanswerable Questions That Stoke Fear: 

To preempt the fearmongering that we’ll be hearing about over the coming weeks and months, we’ve highlighted some big unanswerable questions to help you anticipate what’s ahead.

These questions, which nobody can answer with any degree of certainty, all have consequences for your portfolios:

  • When will the Federal Reserve cut rates?
  • How will the economic slowdown in China impact global growth?
  • Will rising federal debt have consequences? If so, when and how might they manifest?
  • Will housing prices continue to climb due to the demand-supply imbalance?
  • Will the rise of AI and robotics send unemployment rates skyrocketing?
  • Will the rise of remote work lead to more offshoring for cheaper labor of highly educated professionals?
  • Will geopolitical risks impact the economy and financial markets? Such as tensions between the US and China? Or Israel and other Middle East power players such as Iran? Or Russia and Ukraine?
  • How severe will climate risks impact the economy and financial markets? Such as extreme weather events, rising sea-levels, changing precipitation patterns, human displacement, food/water shortages, loss of biodiversity, and increased temperatures.
  • How will the upcoming presidential election influence the economy and financial markets?
  • What are the odds of another global pandemic in our lifetime?
  • How might the increasing burdens of student loans, credit card debt, and other consumer debt affect the US economy?
  • How might a cyberattack derail public safety, national security, and financial markets?
  • When, and how intense, will the next market correction be (10%, 20%, 30%, more)?

Lastly, and because this one actually comes up in client conversations:

  • Is the United States heading towards a post-apocalyptic state where my family’s only chance at survival will be moving to a bunker?

Ah, all heartwarming questions.

Have Hope: 

While there may be a tendency to retreat to cash (or your bunker), also consider the many bright areas that will offer humanity the opportunity to thrive (not just survive) over the next 100 years:

  • Precision agriculture
  • Vertical farming / controlled environment agriculture
  • Desalination technologies
  • Smart water management systems
  • Gene editing
  • Personalized medicine
  • Vaccine development
  • Carbon capture & storage
  • Quantum computing
  • Ethical AI & machine learning
  • Space-based solar power
  • Asteroid mining

Final Thoughts:

In the face of the challenges ahead of us, it is the indomitable human spirit to innovate and persevere that lights our path forward.

Stay hopeful.

Stay proactive.

Stay invested.