People usually define wealth as having enough money in your account to meet all your needs, plus big cars and mansions in your name. Once you have all these, you are considered “made for life.” But is that really the only way through which one can become rich?
Do you also know there are categories of people who have all these things yet still feel like they have nothing? They keep chasing more and more, and before they realise it, time is gone. There’s no time to take that vacation, no time to rest, no time to truly live and the like.
This is something I have come to accept for a long time. Because what is the use of having everything that is considered to make you rich, yet still lacking something within you? Having possessions cannot fill that quiet emptiness.
In my own way, having less reduces pressure. It means you don’t chase everything and you’re not competing with others. You are simply moving at your own pace, guided by what truly matters to you. This is where I am right now.
I don’t want to be in a position where I have it all and still feel heavy inside. I would rather live with less and feel lighter while still doing the things I love, as long as I still have the strength and the time. Because time is a precious thing, and if we are not careful, we may spend all of it chasing and have none left for living.
This is why I believe we need to be conscious and intentional about our daily lives. The idea that we must chase everything to be rich is an illusion. The truth is, having less does not mean one cannot be rich. It may actually be the very thing that qualifies true riches.
Wealth, to me, is freedom, that is, the ability not to be controlled by bills, trends, or expectations. It is the kind of life that makes you choose what aligns with your values and not one dictated by pressure.
Wealth is also contentment. You don’t have to accumulate everything to be considered rich. Being satisfied with what you have, while still being able to enjoy simple pleasures that bring genuine joy is the ideal wealth.
I am not saying money is not important. Of course it is. Money provides comfort, meets needs, and creates opportunities. But it should not come at the expense of your peace of mind. As the scripture says, contentment is a great gain.
Take, for instance, someone earning ₦80k but living with peace and satisfaction may feel far richer than someone earning ₦500k who is constantly anxious, pressured, and restless. One has enough and is at peace; the other has more but is never at rest.
When you understand what wealth means, especially in this way, it changes how you earn. It means you don’t chase money desperately but instead choose work that gives you peace, purpose, and balance. In this way, one begins to value and appreciate time, rest, and meaning alongside income.
It also changes how you spend.
When it comes to spending, I love to be intentional about it. One of the ways I do this is by going for the necessary things and focusing on stuff that is mostly useful instead of trying to impress people. The question in my mind whenever I need to buy anything is, "Do I really need this?" "Does it add value to my life?" If the answer is no, I let it go.
Living this way as a minimalist has helped me in more ways than I imagined. It has helped me avoid comparison, reduce pressure, and enabled me to have control over my life. I don’t live to impress anyone, and so I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone. Living my life is not a rush thing for me.
Since I am not competing with anyone but moving at my own pace within my means, I am good to go. This makes me have a clear understanding of what truly matters and is essential.
This doesn't make me less of myself or reduce my lifestyle; it’s simply me trying to redefine the choices I make along the way. This perspective has greatly helped me create space for peace, joy and the freedom that money alone cannot provide.
All images are mine
