Unlearning Project

We attempt to examine and breakdown our beliefs, biases, and assumptions' origins, most of which are impressed upon us by society and our upbringing. We encourage awareness of our thoughts, and embrace the question "why?" Welcome to our introspective, sometimes crast, show where we explore philosophy and different perspectives on everyday issues. Original music by Spybaby at www.spybabyband.com For more, visit www.unlearningproject.org

Whose Responsibility is it Anyway? 07/11/2022

Die with Zero 06/22/2022

Die with Zero “Why does it have to be that so much of your energetic years are committed to earning income or saving or working? ” Society has ingrained in us that we have to work 50 weeks out of the year and only get two weeks off, but when you really think about it, that puts you on a path toward spending all your valuable time working, saving, and hustling instead of enjoying your life. In today’s episode, Virginia and I talk about Bill Perkins’s book, Die with Zero. In summary, Bill’s book operates off the premise that we work like dogs during the best years of our lives to accumulate a great deal of money but then never really spend it. We live in a fear-based society where productivity, packed schedules, and accumulation of wealth are valued above all else. Well, guess what - they don’t put your net worth on your tombstone, so what’s all that worry on building a nest egg actually worth? Even if we reach retirement age with a healthy nest egg, we may find that we lack the physical and mental stamina to enjoy our newfound freedom. So, it’s time we all focus on enjoying the prime years of our lives a little more so and worry less about accumulating a random number in our investment portfolio. In this episode, listen for: Money is a tool for creating joy and happiness in our lives and in the lives of others Your mind thinks of life as limitless and our years are numbered. You won’t be as able and agile 10 years from now as you are today. Why it makes sense to front load your money and resources now There is no need to let the prospect of making and spending money frighten us into a state of financial restraint. Time is of the utmost value. Make the most of the time you have and steer clear of the all work & no play mentality. When you make a purchase of something, reveal that purchase, enjoy it to the max, and show guilt the door. Is your wealth going to outlive you? If so, what can you do to create joy in the lives of those you love right now, making the best use of your money possible while you’re here to take part in the memories. /episode/index/show/confessionsofafinancialadvisor/id/23488232

The Bubble 05/16/2022

The Bubble There are seasons of life in which all your energy, time, and mental space is taken up by your circumstances. The thing is, you probably don’t even realize you were in a bubble until you come out of it. One major “bubble” of life is the 20 year period in which you have kids, are driving your career forward, and are likely caring for or at least keeping an eye on your aging parents. Prior to having kids, we had a social life, ambitions, and even hobbies. But inside the bubble, our priorities are different and our own desires often get shuffled to the side. Sometimes the bubble consumes you so completely that it’s tough to keep up with world events, pop culture, or anything that doesn’t relate directly to our immediate family’s needs and wants. Comedian Bill Burr provided the inspiration for this conversation with his skit about The Bubble. Today, Virginia and I discuss our different phases of being in the bubble. The common rhetoric of practicing gratefulness directly conflicts with our natural desire to compare ourselves with others. Who has it worse? Does it depend on income, the number of kids, the grandparents’ ability to help, working parents vs stay at home parents? Everything’s a comparison. The truth is, comparison and seemingly selfish thoughts are your brain’s natural tendency toward survival mode. It’s natural to look toward others as a gauge - are you doing better or worse? Only your scenario is occupying your brain’s attention. It’s natural to think you’d handle a situation better than someone else. Our ability to understand what someone else is going through is limited by our own experience and true sympathy typically doesn’t surface until we experience something equally as tough. In this episode, listen for: It does not diminish the impact your condition is having on your life and mental health, even if someone else in the world is in a worse situation [13:38] It's a natural instinct to keep moving forward and believe that things will get better to keep you from going down the rabbit hole of despair [27:32] You must be aware of where you are in your life's journey and of your personal ambitions [38:31] “The Bubble” concept becomes most apparent at the mid-life point. Once your kids are grown, it’s possible you find yourself looking back, wondering what happened to the original goals you set for yourself in your 20s. At this point, it’s useful to redefine what some call a mid-life crisis. Although some go about it the wrong way, mid-life is often a great time to reevaluate your lifestyle, goals, and ambitions. This is typically the point at which you’re exiting the bubble and finally have the mental space and energy to refocus on your desires in life. Are those things from your 20’s still important? It’s okay for goals to fade away, become irrelevant, or change. /episode/index/show/confessionsofafinancialadvisor/id/23106698

COVID and Beyond 04/22/2022

COVID and Beyond Have you ever noticed a tendency to view yourself as invincible? It’s not a true belief of invincibility, but rather a perception that other people’s experiences couldn’t or wouldn’t ever happen to us. Virginia and I both admit to this when it comes to being sick. It’s not typically something most people admit out loud or are even conscious of, but it’s the optimistic or perhaps naive assumption similarly phrased as “that won’t happen to me.” For us, it’s often like a badge of honor that we never get sick. The perception digs in deeper as we often assume we’d react differently, navigate better, or problem-solve more quickly than someone else. This week I, Al Gugliotta, share about my Covid experience. Can you believe it? I wound up with Covid after two years of evading it! I still can’t believe it although I’ll have to come around soon since I’m still dealing with the chest congestion and all the after-effects. Maybe this is one of those instinctual patterns like fight-or-flight that helps us keep moving forward during tough times or maybe it’s setting us up for disappointment. In this episode, listen for: Having a greater sense of empathy and gratitude for the vaccine because of my exposure to COVID [26:07] We’re terrified of stillness and quiet. We’re conditioned to stay busy and if we stop, it’s uncomfortable [39:47] Are you too close to your life and lifestyle which prevents you from taking action on your goals? [51:44] One thing I see clearly is the tendency for people (us included) to focus on a single issue that elicits an emotional response from them. We’re so focused on local issues that are blown out of proportion by the media when there are much more impactful issues going on in the world. I’ve tried for so long to listen to all the news/podcasts to get both sides of the story and I’m starting to see that it’s not serving me, leading me toward a media fast altogether. /episode/index/show/confessionsofafinancialadvisor/id/22872287

Conspicuous Consumption 03/21/2022

Conspicuous Consumption You probably know someone who’s always showing off their latest purchase- maybe it’s gourmet lunch, a new car, the latest tech - you name it. When someone buys goods or services in an attempt to show their success, they are participating in conspicuous consumption. These days, everyone posts on social media doing “humble brags” about their life, and even if they don’t intend to showboat their status, that’s exactly what’s happening. Even something so seemingly innocent as vacation pics can be revealing of your status. No matter what you share, there’s always someone reading into it and wishing they had that money, time, experience, freedom, etc. The entire point of achieving Financial Independence is to have a steady cash flow, work less hours, and spend more time with your family. When consumption is purposeful and when each purchase is meaningful, you’ll automatically feel more fulfilled, no matter your financial status or achievements. In this episode, listen for Instead of spending money on luxuries that may or may not last, foster connections with the humans you care most about. When purchasing a car, television, or other items, consider whether it’s a smart purchase over the long term, rather than participating in the latest flashy trends. You’ve seen ads portraying the “ideal” retirement lifestyle, but is that what you want your retirement to look like? Long-term investing helps attain the financial freedom you desire, but circumstances change. Are you so impressionable that huge corporations can say anything and you’ll believe it? Corporations suffer little-to-no consequences for false claims or poor products while the general public suffers as a direct result of decisions they made. Think about all the scams in just the past 10 years - Volkswagen, Purdue Pharma, HSBC, etc. This is the point at which trust is broken. Instead of being easily swayed, use your better judgment, do your research, and decide the truth for yourself. /episode/index/show/confessionsofafinancialadvisor/id/21848999