American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson first coined the phrase,
“The first wealth is health”
As Black Friday approaches and consumers hunt for the next big deal, I can’t help but think that we tend to overvalue having things and all the things that money can buy whilst undervaluing our health and wellness.
How each of us defines true wealth may look different to every one of us. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, may be the epitome of wealth with a current worth of over $331bn and which makes him one of the richest people on earth. The concept of wealth becomes even more distorted as billionaires make up less than 1% of the world’s population, but hold over 25% of the world’s total wealth.
True wealth shouldn’t be limited to financial aspirations only. I believe it should encompass our mental and physical health, as well as our overall level of wellness. In other words, how much joy are we getting out of each day?
“It is health that is real wealth. And not pieces of gold and silver.” – Gandhi
I believe there is a balance between financial independence and general wellness. Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money, stated that “money’s greatest intrinsic value is its ability to give you control over your time”.
How we choose to spend our time when we’re not working or rushing to the next meeting feeds through to our wellness wealth.
Financial wealth requires time, patience, money. Wellness wealth requires intrinsic motivation and time. Intrinsic motivation is linked to greater satisfaction, happiness and well-being. It provides a sense of purpose and fulfilment that external rewards alone don’t offer. Intrinsic motivation is tied to genuine interest and enjoyment. It can lead to greater creativity, innovation and high-quality performance.
Here is my list of ways that I invest in wellness:
- Meditate
- Walk
- Cook nutritious meals
- Adopt a mindful mobility practice
- Create a supportive social circle
- Give back to your community
- Spend quality time with loved ones
- Connect with people
- Create moments of pause in your day to sit in the sun, go outside, write, read or do art.
- Set boundaries around how much time you spend online whether its for work or scrolling social media
Ultimately choosing wellness activities that foster your curiosity and learning will ensure that you remain committed to driving your wellness wealth over time.
“What you appreciate appreciates. When you make a difference with what you have, it expands. Collaboration creates prosperity. True abundance flows from enough; never from more. Money carries our intention. If we use it with integrity, then it carries integrity forward. “
Lynne Twist, The Soul of Money
It’s easy to let financial fears consume you and to feel like you will never have enough. Yet when one pauses to reconnect and spend their time consciously, one realises that abundance is everywhere and that true wealth isn’t only a number but a sense of peace, fulfilment and joy.
