Once a reader asked me about financial independence: what pleasure can one get from lounging around, doing nothing, giving in to laziness? It's fine for a while, 2-3 weeks maximum, the time of a vacation on the beach, but how can one consider living like that for the rest of one's days?
Let's be clear, the goal here is anything but a passive approach. The path to get there first of all requires clairvoyance, self-denial and a long-term vision. It also represents a real change in one's way of life, particularly in terms of consumption.
Long before becoming a rentier, we adopt the principles of a more frugal life, without necessarily depriving ourselves of everything. But beyond that, the goal of financial independence is not necessarily to do less.
It can be, of course, especially when you have given too much of yourself during your professional career. But it is above all about doing better, that is to say in a more conscious way, less automatically, more in line with your deep values.
If it is about enjoying the beaches, the setting or rising suns, then we do it, savoring each of these moments. While during our working life we may have worn out the deckchairs to recover physically and psychologically from long months of labor, during our life as a rentier we enjoy it because that is how we decided. The approach is anything but passive.
On the contrary, it is the laboratory rat that is passive, responding to the stimuli of the experimenters. Financial independence requires the rat to take control of itself and choose its destiny.
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Indeed, it would be wrong to confuse financial independence and idleness. These two notions are distinct. If financial independence allows idleness, it does not condemn - fortunately - to such a state (which I find particularly sad, sterile and even contrary to human nature). For me, financial independence is rather a guarantee of freedom. Then, from one's freedom, one does what one wants. As for me, if I think of financial independence and the freedom it brings, a multitude of projects come to mind, intellectual, cultural, sporting, creative, artistic, etc.; I would have a great thirst to learn and undertake.
Time is money. But working 150% to get that money means not having so much time anymore. Having money without having to work all the time allows you to have time. But too much time for yourself means less money, from time to time. Less money means less time. Time is money. QED.
Plus your stuff lasts a long time! 🙂