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Comment by orlp | Hacker News Reader

That's a nice story and all but it isn't a reality for most people. For most people on this planet it's work or starve on the street.

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I think the argument is not to not work, but to change the mindset that is so ingrained in our society that you must work. You don't want to starve, so you work, but you can do it with mindset that is fundamentally different, where you choose to focus on being in the moment, and don't let yourself get stressed by outcomes you have no control over, just as you would if you are playing a game or playing music.

Changing your mindset is hard, you are fighting against an entire society where your are expected to be "serious" as an adult and identify yourself with your work, but you do have a choice

At least in the USA, due to the lack of social safety nets I have to disagree. It's very much work or starve. Yeah you can try to change your perspective, but unless your in a privileged situation where you have a safety net (i.e. a wealthy family to support you if things go wrong) then it's difficult to stop thinking about it.

Yes, it is work or starve. But you are going to work anyway. Thinking about the starve component doesn't help you enjoy it at all.

I wish that "just stop having x thoughts" was a thing I could control.

There are substances to let you debug/rewire your brain, but they are usually illegal because if enough people used them, it might threaten those who prefer things to stay they way they are.

This is true in isolation (every part of what you just said), but does it solve the problem being discussed?

Which ones help most with that? I'd like to try it sometime. Have you ever done it?

Somebody's got to work. Look at all the nice goodies we have.

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