Most people define wealth as a materialistic thing, such as living in a new mansion in Miami, owning multiple sports cars, dining on the yacht with supermodels or getting millions in the bank account each month. Being rich is also part of being wealthy, however, it doesn’t directly translate into being wealthy. In the same way, being smart doesn’t mean one is wise.
Wealth is subjective in its meaning, but allow me to humour you with my opinion. Being wealthy in my definition stands for being happy, to gain that happiness one generally needs; freedom, family and friends. You might notice I have pointed out two instances of relationships out of three points. It has been said countless times, that humans are social species. Don’t believe me? Just look all around you. The things you see are the accumulation of other people’s work. Your entertainment, education and even everyday life. If you were to be born with no human contact whatsoever, you would have most likely been a feral animal living in the woods feeding on roots and mushrooms.
Regarding social interactions, two groups have the biggest influence on our lives. Our families and friends. We can’t choose into which family we are born, however, it is always good to keep up good relationships. If this ship sailed far into the distance for you, you still can build your own family by having children. This relationship is the most crucial, as your interactions with your children will determine the rest of their lives. On the other hand, we are free to choose who we befriend ourselves with. The people you decide to surround yourself with, play a crucial role in your everyday lives.
You might have never noticed this, but we often form our personalities and future pathways based on our friendships. If you befriend a drug dealer, your future is pretty much decided. If not today, you will eventually cave in and try drugs. When you start talking with that MMO-addicted guy, how probable is it that you might try the game and stay stuck caring about a virtual fantasy world that holds no real meaning to your life? Now, on the other hand, imagine sharing time with a friend who is passionate about finances, or someone who loves reading and frequently publishes meaningful posts on blogs and medium sites. Instead of having people around you, who slow you down, find and care for those who will blow winds into your sails.
Now to talk about the third component of wealth; freedom. Freedom is the ability to choose no matter the circumstances. For this, you will need money, enough money to not worry about rent and to allow you to pursue your dreams. You’ve most likely already worked a 9-5 and felt the exhaustion that comes with it. After all, it takes your 8 productive hours of your day and leaves you exhausted after another two hours that you’ve been stuck in the traffic to work and home.
Freedom of choice doesn’t only come with money, but also with the free time you have. Everyone only has 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. No matter how much money you will earn, there is only finite time you have on this planet. Once that ceases to exist, you are worthless. No matter how much money you have accumulated. So choose wisely. Don’t needlessly waste your life in a dead-end job, just because society tells you it’s the appropriate thing to do.
I will eventually post about money and passive income, if you’re interested in that, please subscribe to my newsletter and keep yourself updated about all things finance and tech.
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