There was a time when I thought a rolex watch, a Ferrari and a house with a pool were the ultimate goals to aspire to. I naively thought that these things would bring happiness and a sense of fulfilment and I continually planned and strategised to attempt to fulfil that dream of driving a Ferrari and taking a morning dip in my own private pool. In time though I've come to realise that these things have little to do with inner happiness and everything to do with ego, or the image of yourself that you want to portray to the world.
Since I was made redundant a couple of years ago I've learned that freedom and passion are far more important goals. I now earn a fraction of what I used to earn running my own business, but I come and go as I please, and in fact I tend to get up in the morning at 6am rather than 7:30am to face the morning commute to the office. Instead, I get up, make some coffee, sometimes sit in the garden to enjoy the early morning bird song, switch on my laptop and do a bit of work at my leisure. That's because I'm doing something that I have a passion for. This is far more important than accumulating pointless chattels that just end up costing you more and more money.
All of the silly things that we consumers buy, just to try and prove that we are somebody in the world, are a trap. Expensive cars and watches cost fortunes to maintain. Big houses with pools attract massive taxes. Designer clothes tend to last only a few wears before they don't look their best any more. I'd rather grow my own vegetables, wear more practical clothes, drive a second hand car and live in a modest house with a view. These are the things that make me happy and these are the things that are least likely to impress people. Indeed as the old saying goes “We spend money we don't have, on stuff we can't afford, to impress people we don't like” and likely the people we are trying to impress only resent you anyway.
The consumerist trap has gripped the world, and instead of living life to find peace, love and happiness we've somehow ended up on hamster wheel in search of happiness that cannot be found.
It is possible to find freedom but first we must denounce our addiction to buying shit that doesn't really impress anyone. Then we must denounce debt, and live within our means. Finally we must find our passion and use it to be of service to others.
We can all be rich, but it's how you define 'rich' that will bring you either happiness, or put you on a perpetual journey of consumption. Your choice.
The attached video by Peter Adeney who retired before 30 is a wonderful example of we should all revisit our relationship with money and freedom:
