在人世間，大多數事情會反覆發生，一個人的生命軌跡與他人相差無幾，都遵循基本模式，經歷幾個不同階段。普通人的壽命大約為80 歲，分為3 個階段，中間有兩個5~10 年的間隔。雖然每個生命都是獨特的，但多數人的生活軌跡大同小異。即使你的生活道路異於常人，你仍可以思考你的人生旅程，從中學到很多東西。
我把人生分為3 個階段。第一階段是受教育和依靠他人的階段；你每天上學，在父母的呵護下成長。第二階段是工作和養家的階段；你努力追求事業成功和家庭幸福，維持工作與生活的平衡。到第三階段，你從所有奔波中解脫出來，無憂無慮，盡情享受生活，最後心無掛礙地逝去。到第三階段時，你會渴望奉獻畢生所學，幫助他人獲得成功。（我現在就處於第三階段，也是我寫作本書和從事其他事情的動力。）
當你明白生命的軌跡並思考即將發生的變化時，你就能展望未來5~10 年，預想到你和家人的樣子將不同於現在。你會發現，10 年後，你的子女（也許比你小25~40 歲）將離家獨立生活，你的父母（比你年長25~40 歲）會進入晚年或已經去世，而你將步入職業生涯最困難的時期。在清楚你和家人的未來後，你可以設想如何儘可能好地度過這10 年。在籌劃下一個10 年時，越詳細越好（如仔細規劃你所需的時間、資金及其用途）。
Because most everything repeats through time, it’s possible to think of one’s own life arc as “another one of those” with discrete phases that follow an archetypical pattern. For example, the archetypical life lasts about 80 years and evolves in three very different phases, with two roughly 5- to 10-year transition phases between them. While each life is of course unique, most arcs are pretty similar to each other and vary from each other for relatively few reasons. Even if your life arc bears little resemblance to the typical one, you can still learn a lot by reflecting on your life journey. (In my app, Principles in Action, I have an interactive exercise to explain the life arc and help guide your reflections on your own life.)
The way I see it, the typical life arc has three phases. In the first phase, you learn and are dependent on others. That is when you are in school and under your parents’ care. In the second phase, you work and others are dependent on you. That is when you are trying to be successful at work and successful with your family at the same time, so you are facing a challenge with work-life balance. In the third phase, you are free of all that so you can savor life without obligations and are free to die. In the transition from the second to the third phase, your natural inclinations and contributions come from passing along the gifts you can give that will help others succeed without you. (This third phase is the phase I’m now in, which is motivating my actions like writing this book.)
As you understand the life arc and reflect on the changes that are likely to occur, you’ll be able to look 5 or 10 years ahead and picture how you and your loved ones will probably be different than you are now. For example, you might see that in 10 years your children (who are probably 25 to 40 years younger than you) will be leaving home and your parents (who are 25-40 years older than you) will likely be in their last years or will have passed away, while you will be approaching the most challenging part of your career. By knowing what’s ahead for you and them, you can start thinking about how to make these 10 years as good as they can be. The more you visualize this next 10-year period in detail (e.g., how much money and time you will need and for what), the better it will go.
瑞·達利歐官方微信公眾號: raydalio_
《每日原則》為瑞·達利歐(Ray Dalio) 原創，
《原則》團隊翻譯，歡迎分享，轉載請註明出處。