Finding Wealth in 2025: In a World That Demands More, We Find Richness in Appreciating Less
We live in a world of abundance with minds wired for scarcity.
This was once an advantage—an instinct that kept our ancestors alive. More food, more shelter, more resources meant survival. Those who wanted more often got more, and those who didn’t… well, their genes didn’t make it this far.
But today, the survival game has changed.
We aren’t hunting for food or bracing for famine. And yet, our minds still behave as if we are.
So we equate wealth with having more—more money, more security, more status, more things. We chase “enough” like a finish line that keeps moving. We tie safety to accumulation. We fear contentment because we think it will make us complacent.
And to an extent, this makes sense.
Let’s be clear—having enough to survive is not a luxury. It’s a human right. Stability provides solid ground to stand on. No one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from or whether they’ll have a roof over their head next month.
And beyond that?
The richest life isn’t found in owning more, earning more, and achieving more.
It’s found in appreciating less.
We Need a New Operating System
For the first time in human history, we are drowning in abundance.
There is more to consume than ever before. More entertainment, more knowledge, more opportunities, more stuff. More things to buy, more paths to take, more people to compare ourselves to.
And with every passing year, the speed of it all increases.
Knowing what will make you feel truly rich—what will give your life meaning—has never been harder to identify.
Your mind will default to the old operating system: chase more, avoid less, secure your future.
But in a world where there is always more, this strategy ensures that you will never feel like you have enough.
What’s the alternative?
Instead of letting your mind chase whatever feels safest, most pleasurable, or most impressive—you choose your values and walk toward them.
Instead of constantly scanning for more, you focus on what matters now.
Instead of tying happiness to what you get, you tie it to the way you live.
This is the new wealth.
A Moment of Seeing Clearly
A client of mine had lived with anxiety for most of his life—especially the fear of death. It was a quiet undercurrent in everything he did. A lingering thought that no matter how much he achieved or how much security he built, it could all be taken away.
One day, he came into session looking almost… confused.
He had just survived a near-death experience. And in the moment he thought he was going to die, something unexpected happened—he felt more alive than ever.
His senses sharpened. His mind became still. And in the face of what should have been overwhelming, he felt an unshakable clarity.
Then, he survived.
"I don’t understand it," he said. "I feel no anxiety at all. None."
It wasn’t relief in his voice. It was curiosity, almost disbelief. He had spent so long in a state of unease that the absence of it felt foreign, and he was worried that it meant he didn’t care about his life. At the same time, he knew that he was no longer filled with dread.
As the session unfolded, he began to piece together what had changed. And as he sat across from me, slowly realizing what had changed, he absolutely clocked me by sharing the simple truth he had realized:
"As long as I am alive, by definition, I must have everything I need to live. I must have enough. There’s nothing to worry about."
I saw the truth of it with him. He wasn’t ignoring the realities of life. He was living fully with them. As he unwound his new perspective further, he said something that stayed with me long after that session ended:
"Life is no longer about a struggle to make sure I have what I need. Now it's about living the way that I want."
This realization wasn’t just a thought. It was something he knew now, something he had seen—so deeply that it reshaped the way he viewed his life.
And yet, in spite of how simple this truth is, living this way isn’t easy. It’s a hard standard to hold. One that I aspire to live by to this day.
Because this is the foundation of a truly wealthy life.
The Path to True Wealth
If you want to live richly, you have to question your scarcity driven mind and teach it a new path forward.
It will constantly whisper:
“You need more security.”
“You’ll be happy when you get there.”
“Once you have enough, then you can relax.”
It’s a trick.
Happiness isn’t waiting on the other side of some future outcome.
It’s in taking action toward your values now.
Here’s how:
Notice your conditions for happiness.
Make a list of all the things your mind says it needs in order to be happy. Maybe it’s more money, a promotion, more success, a partner, etc.
Question them.
Is it actually true that you need this in order to be happy? Have you been happy at other times without it?
You can still walk towards the things you desire. Would you prefer to be happy while you walk towards them, or wait for happiness until you get there?
Tie happiness to living your values, not reaching an outcome.
Instead of “I’ll be happy when I find the right relationship,” try “I value compassion and relationships. I will live in a loving way now.”
Instead of “I’ll feel free when I have enough money,” try “I value my autonomy. I will use my freedom to walk towards financial security.”
Instead of “I’ll rest when I’ve earned it,” try “I value productivity and leisure. I will be active when it’s helpful, I’ll rest when it suits me.”
When you do this—when you learn to want nothing more than what you have while still walking toward what matters—
You free yourself.
And in that freedom, you’re no longer waiting to be happy. You’re no longer living for the next milestone, the next purchase, the next security blanket.
You’re already living a life worth appreciating.
And that’s a wealth that can’t be taken from you.
