Become Wealthy By Wanting Less
“To make a person rich, do not add to their store of money, but subtract from their desires.”
—Seneca
Letters From A Stoic
In today's fast-paced world, we're bombarded with messages telling us that more is better. Buy the latest phone, upgrade your car, get a bigger house. But Seneca's wisdom flips the script, suggesting that true wealth isn't about accumulating possessions; it's about mastering our desires.
You see, every time we chase after something new, we're actually running on a treadmill of dissatisfaction, always reaching but never quite arriving. Instead, when we dial back our cravings, we step off that treadmill. We find contentment in what we have right now. Ask yourself: Are your endless wants making you feel endlessly empty?
The next time you're about to make a purchase, pause for a moment. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this, or am I simply feeding a desire that will soon be replaced by another?" By choosing to subtract from our desires rather than adding to our possessions, we gift ourselves a sense of peace and abundance that no amount of money can buy. It's not the things we own but the yearnings we tame that pave the path to true richness.
Can you identify one desire you could let go of today to feel more fulfilled and rich in life?