What is Wealth?

The Crazy Rich
Many people who make well over $100,000 per year are still desperate for more money. These people work like dogs at high stress jobs while struggling to pay their mortgages, struggle to make their car payments and hide their unsustainable levels of spending from their spouses. Are these people crazy? Do they not realize that their misery is a result of their inability to appreciate the obvious opportunities they have?

Your Advice
What would you say to someone like this who is miserable because they think $100,000 per year is not enough? Honestly imagine you are looking at someone who is nearly in tears because they sincerely believe they need to earn more than $100,000 per year. What kind of thoughts would go through your mind? What would you say to this person if they asked for your advice?

Who is Crazy?
It may come as a shock to you, but the advice you would give this person might be good advice to give yourself. You see, being an America at this time in history almost certainly means that you have a higher living standard than almost anyone who has ever lived in the history of the world. Kings and queens living hundreds of years ago didn't have the amenities that are readily available to you. Also, a huge number of people living in the world today in places such as China, India and Africa probably view your situation just like you view the situation of the $100,000 per year person.

Who is Richer?
The definitions of poor and rich can be very subjective. People you think are rich may actually think they are poor. Also, although you may feel poor there are probably millions of people who would consider you rich. There is a huge psychological component to the grasp poverty has on your state of mind. It isn't all about money. Who is richer, the person who goes to the store with $10 and gets everything they want or the person who goes to the store with $100 and leaves without being able to afford what they want?