What Is Wealth?
¿Qué es la riqueza?--por Ryan Holiday
¿Qué es la riqueza? Es tener mucho, ¿verdad? Las variables en la ecuación son bastante simples. Lo que tienes, lo que entra y lo que sale. Si están en la proporción adecuada entre sí, está cubierto. Excepto que lo que tendemos a perder en esta ecuación es otro conjunto de variables ocultas que con mayor frecuencia toman la forma de nuestras necesidades y deseos relativos.
La mayoría de las personas acumulan su riqueza ganando tanto como pueden. Por eso trabajan tan duro. Por eso corren tantos riesgos. Es por lo que invierten. Pero la razón por la que hacen esto no tiene que estar cubierta: es porque se han dicho a sí mismos que lo que necesitan es más, más, más, y que lo que ya tienen no es suficiente.
Séneca, que era un hombre muy rico, hizo eso. Los sorprendentes beneficios financieros de trabajar para Nerón tuvieron que ser en parte lo que lo atrajo al servicio del tirano. Ojalá pudiera haber escuchado su propio consejo (que tomó prestado de Epicuro): "Si deseas enriquecer a Pitocles, no añadas dinero a su reserva, sino resta sus deseos".
Para una persona virtuosa, no hay absolutamente nada de malo en querer ser rico. Puede proporcionar comodidad, seguridad y, posiblemente, una plataforma para hacer el bien al mundo. Los estoicos simplemente te instan a que te tomes un minuto para pensar cuál es tu definición de riqueza, y si ya puedes tener todo lo que siempre has querido.
Hay más de una forma de resolver esta complicada ecuación de riqueza, y en tu caso puede ser que la resta sea más fácil que la multiplicación. Que cambiar tu comprensión de lo que significa ser rico podría ser más importante y más fácil que cambiar el número de dígitos a la izquierda del punto decimal en el saldo de tu banco.
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cuál es tu definición de riqueza? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de un momento en el que experimentaste riqueza mediante la resta en lugar de la multiplicación? ¿Qué te ayuda a mantenerte al tanto de la distinción entre necesidades y deseos?
Extraído de The Daily Stoic.
Excerpted from The Daily Stoic.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What is your definition of wealth? Can you share a personal story of a time you experienced wealth through subtraction instead of multiplication? What helps you stay aware of the distinction between needs and wants?
Add Your Reflection
18 Past Reflections
On Oct 24, 2019 Satya N Haridoss wrote :
WEALTH is quite relative in comparison to one's own possession with people richer or poorer to one's own perception or situation. A wise person who could conduct his life within his means with less desires is the 'wealthiest individual'. "Perfection is Achieved not when there is nothing more to add But when there is nothing left to take away".
Post Your Reply
On Oct 24, 2019 Nasrain wrote :
Wealth is knowing there is no lack.
wealth is trust and faith in knowing we are the co creators and powerful beings.
wealth is in knowing that you deserve this creation and everything is available in this transient life. Wealth is enjoying life with contentment and peace. Sharing,caring and loving yourself.
wealth is trust and faith in knowing we are the co creators and powerful beings.
wealth is in knowing that you deserve this creation and everything is available in this transient life. Wealth is enjoying life with contentment and peace. Sharing,caring and loving yourself.
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Oct 23, 2019 Amy wrote :
A wealthy person is one who knows he/she will be spending their eternity in Heaven! She/He invests their life, time and work on/in Him ... the only One Who REALLY matters.
Post Your Reply
On Oct 22, 2019 Kamaruzzaman wrote :
Wealth is kind of accumulation (or, appropriation) in plenty earned by unlawful looting (law is taken for granted here) of others' produces which is reproduced as one's wealth - wealth is never one's own earning, and constitutional laws give it its full surety and security. if you have plenty of wealth, you are wealthy, you gain access to power and you are powerful to reckon with.When you are powerful, you mean to be politically powerful.That means you have the power to power over and rule over the entirepopulation living under the dire duress of economic and political discriminationa domination - so long as this persists, the wealthy scums of the society will remain wealthier, the heinous corrupted and criminals to the core will go on ruling as ever over underprivileged lot who are poor as usual and would become more and more poorer.
Economics is a subject of corny hoaxes and foxes. What do it actually does? What have itactually done so far? The so-called elitist economist... [View Full Comment]
3 replies: David, Jane, Jane | Post Your Reply
On Oct 22, 2019 Susan wrote :
Wealth is all the good in my life. It's access to what I need and the ability to develop myself and my family, and give to others.
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Oct 22, 2019 luciernaga wrote :
For me wealth is slowly but clearly becoming letting go of fears and doubts. The peace and calmness increase with each one I release. The wealth of a full breath; taken in full with a diaphragm suddenly relaxed and able to expand with the in-rush of air. The wealth of a steady heartbeat; pulsing in harmony with life rather than rushing through arteries and veins closed tight.
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Oct 22, 2019 Idris Bawa wrote :
wealth is wellness of the body, mind and soul; its not only about material things. Knowledge is wealth just like health. Wealth is the totality of wellbeing of an individual.
Post Your Reply
On Oct 20, 2019 Prasad Kaipa wrote :
I have reflected on wealth and found that pigeons represent desires as seen in this photo.
Click on the image for higher-res photo.
Click on the image for higher-res photo.
Post Your Reply
On Oct 19, 2019 David Doane wrote :
Wealth is having an abundance of something valuable, often referring to money but not necessarily, and often means having more than what is needed. A simple example of my experiencing wealth through subtraction instead of multiplication is when I make a gift to someone of something of mine, resulting in some wealth of good feeling for me. What helps me stay aware of the distinction between wants and needs is knowing that a person's wants are many, are not necessary for survival and may not even be for the person's good, and wants tend to come and go, while needs are few, are necessary for survival, and are consistent. Awareness of the distinction between wants and needs helps me want less and grow in appreciation for what I have, and that awareness and appreciation are a happy wealth for me. Awareness that wealth can definitely be other than monetary helps me grow in what really is valuable to me.
Post Your Reply
On Oct 18, 2019 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
Wealth is a means to taking care of my basic survival needs such as food, shelter, and safety. It is a means and not a goal. My higher level needs such as need to belong to, self-worth, contentment, inner peace and happiness,and self-realization cannot be fulfilled by never-to-be-satisfied craving for more, more and more money and things and possessions. Real wealth according to me is inner wealth that makes my inner life rich, joyful, generous, kind, and loving-Happy
I was blessed to be raisedby parents who shared their bread joyfully with those who were hungry and provided shelter to those who needed it. They were living examples of the saying of St Francis of Assisi, " It is by giving we receive...It is in pardoning that we are pardoned." I experience such inner wealth almost on a daily basis by serving people who are going though emotional pain.Teaching and counseling is my profession. I earn inner wealth by offering my unconditionalloving kindness to others. What a bles... [View Full Comment]