I have achieved financial freedom. My investments create enough income to live on. Yay. But now I find myself questioning if this freedom comes at the expense of motivation.
As background I am an attorney. I practice the kind of law that I generally like but being an attorney is not really a happy profession. I help my clients get the money they are owed by insurance companies. When I am finished and they get paid the claim that was originally denied, they seem thankful for my services. But I realize that my fee is setting them back money they should not have to pay if the insurer had just come through in the first place like they promised. And in the rare cases I lose, I tend to get devastated by the injustice. So what, nothing is perfect right? But the thing is I don't need to work for the money, I need to work to stay busy and be fulfilled. And at the end of the day I am not sure fighting with other attorneys all the time, reassuring clients in financial distress, and feeling guilty over my fees is that fulfilling. What I like about it though is that it keeps me busy but I control my schedule. I can take long weekends or vacations without worry. And it is a solid gig in the eyes of society so I don't look like I am a country club shrub.
I used to be a practicing jewelry craftsman. I enjoyed that a lot. Except the part where the industry goes nuts in December and no one is allowed to take vacations during the time when most people, including me, want to take vacations. So I am reluctant to go back to that.
My mindset is not tuned in right to the freedom to do whatever I want. When I was young and hungry I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted to become the best goldsmith around, big shot designer. I did that. Then when I realized the financial gains were not so great I went to law school. I would have told you then that I wanted to be a big shot with a big practice, lots of prestige, money, etc. So after law school I struck off on my own and did well by myself. That lead me to now, wondering what to do going forward. The thought of getting really big in law scares me though because 1) as I said law is not that happy so bigger law will probably be even less happy and 2) I am 49 and the 16 or so years until 65 don't really seem that long and I don't want to make a mistake creating something not happy.
I sometimes think about famous musicians who make hit records and achieve fame while young. But then I wonder where they went, why they stopped creating hits? With the talent they obviously have it would seem that age would be kind to their creativity and their songwriting would get better over time. But generally they fade into obscurity as they get older. I wonder if it is simply a truth that hunger makes us succeed and success makes us lethargic and seek comfort.
I feel like perhaps one would feel by inheriting money but then losing motivation. Even Mr. Money Mustache has posted about the evil of giving children all your money only to rob them of motivation. Perhaps financial freedom at any age does this and that is what I am grappling with.
I recognize that consumerism is not the answer to my happiness and I appreciated the posts Mr. Money Mustache posted in that regard.
I just wonder if there are resources or reading material that speaks to my low motivation and how to create a new goal when I am no longer hungry?
Thanks.