Wealthy, Healthy, Happy and Wise
6 Things Zen Monks Can Teach us About Finding Calm, Focus and Presence
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Wealthy, Healthy, Happy and Wise: The Pillars of a Good Life
For centuries, philosophers and sages have pondered what it means to live a fulfilled and happy life. The quest for a good life is universal, but how we find happiness varies from person to person. Wealth, health, happiness and wisdom are four pillars of a successful life that are often discussed in isolation. They are often addressed as separate entities — almost as if they were adversaries.
They’re not!
While it might seem like these things are mutually exclusive, the truth is that having any one of these things is a step in the right direction toward having them all. They come together when we live with intention and adopt habits that support a better life. Instead of seeing them as separate concepts, it is far more productive to view wealth, health, happiness and wisdom as interlocking pillars of a good life. Many people struggle with one or more of these pillars as they work towards their goals. However, anyone can achieve a strong foundation for a fulfilled life by working on all four areas of balance.
Some see it as the key to a happy and successful life; others fear that the risk of falling into poverty is too high without a good balance between our financial assets. No one is immune to the stressors of modern-day living; however, our response determines whether we thrive or fall victim to life’s challenges. True wealth is the abundance of time and freedom to pursue your true north.
“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life,” says Henry David Thoreau.
Wealth is much more than money; it’s the freedom to do what you want with money and time. Being wealthy in this context does not mean having money; it means being resourceful with what you have so that you don’t end up going bankrupt. When we have a good balance of wealth, health, happiness and wisdom, we experience a sense of fulfilment in our lives. The more balanced our life is, the happier we feel and the more confident we become to tackle any challenges that come our way.
“There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning,” Christopher Morley once said.
With so many distractions, pressures and responsibilities pulling you in different directions, it can be hard to remember what is most important in life. Getting wealthy, healthy, happy and wise simultaneously is a tough goal. It almost sounds like a lot to expect from a single life. But it’s precisely these four cornerstones that lead to a rich, full life, if you can manage to get the right balance.
Good health is the first wealth
“Doctors won’t make you healthy. Nutritionists won’t make you slim. Teachers won’t make you smart. Gurus won’t make you calm. Mentors won’t make you rich. Trainers won’t make you fit. Ultimately, you have to take responsibility. Save yourself.” — Naval Ravikant
Good health is the decision to take complete control of your self-care.A healthy lifestyle is a choice. By taking control of your health, you’re making choices that can significantly impact your long-term happiness, quality of life, and well-being. In other words, being healthy isn’t something that happens to you — it’s something you choose to do. Many factors, such as diet, exercise, sleep, and stress, impact your well-being. These factors can play a significant role in your long-term quality of life. The most important decisions are those related to your diet and lifestyle.
By making these decisions yourself, you take ownership of your health, making staying motivated easier. Taking control of your health and wellness will give you the mental energy necessary to make wise decisions and build wealth. And by learning how to live wisely, you will have the experience and knowledge necessary to make well-informed decisions about your finances.
Happiness is a byproduct of a meaningful life
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” — Joseph Addison
Happiness is not a goal — you become happy when you strive for a good life. Wisdom is the application of knowledge to your life. Whether you’re looking to be wealthy, healthy, happy, wise or just want to enjoy a more fulfilling life, you need specific actions. And you have to be willing to make them a lifestyle — there are no quick wins or one-time steps. Top performers are in it for the long haul.
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination,” says Carl Rogers.
Wealth, health, happiness and wisdom may be related, but they are not the same. If you want to be happy, you need to pursue your true north (experiences that bring out the best in you). Wealth can mean good health, meaningful relationships, memorable experiences and knowledge for a better life.
Wealth has three pillars: meaningful activities, relationships with others and meaningful experiences. These are the secrets to true wealth — regardless of how much money you have in the bank. Money can’t buy health or happiness directly — spent well, it can help you live a good and even meaningful life where you spend your money matters if you want a meaningful life.
Money spent on experiences and on others rather than on yourself is more likely to make you happy. Experiential purchases — like vacations and activities — have been shown repeatedly to be a strong predictor of long-term life satisfaction. Researchers have also found that spending money on other people is associated with greater life satisfaction — as are non-monetary gifts such as volunteering, giving a gift or helping someone in need.
You can be happy and wealthy at the same time. Remember, wealth doesn’t necessarily mean money; it could mean anything — greater control of your time, healthy life or being surrounded by love and support. But wealth isn’t necessarily happiness. “The first wealth is health,” says Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The ability to discern what is true or right is superpower
Wisdom is a state of understanding and knowing, which can only be developed over time. Also, all riches start in the mind. “Learning is the beginning of wealth. Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins,” says Jim Rohn.
Happiness is a more subjective concept, but it can be measured in different ways. It could mean feeling content with your life as it is now or having a positive outlook on life. And wisdom can be seen in different ways, too; for example, it could mean the ability to see the big picture, apply the right knowledge in life or make good decisions.
When you are in a position of wealth and privilege, it is easy to feel like you have all the answers. After all, you’re rich, right? You have the resources to do anything you want. However, this is far from the truth; In fact, it’s very common to see wealthy people make poor decisions. They tend to forget that they don’t know everything. They forget that there are other people out there who can offer different perspectives and experiences. And they also forget that they aren’t always right. Wisdom is knowing how to spend wealth.
No matter what definition you choose for each concept, the goal is the same: you want to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
In our modern world, where the pursuit of money is almost everything for everyone, how do we reconcile our desire for wealth with our desire for happiness, good health and wisdom? Exploring this question leads us to a good life. Achieving wealth, happiness, good health and wisdom takes time. While money can sometimes buy you happiness — and life experiences that will undoubtedly make you happier — it won’t necessarily lead to genuine fulfilment.
Truly wealthy people have a deeper understanding of their values and direction in life, which gives them a greater capacity for self-control and conscientious decision-making. An open mind is one of the most important things you can do to improve your chances of control over your wealth, health, happiness and wisdom. Keep learning, upgrading and improving your ideas about designing a good life.
“Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.”—Vernon Howard.
Food for thought
6 Things Zen Monks Can Teach us About Finding Calm, Focus and Presence [Free read on Medium]
4. On being here now
“Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.”— Buddha
You don’t have to retreat to a monastery to benefit from life-changing monk habits. Start with being present and conscious of wherever you are.Whatever you do, be there with all of yourself: mind, body and soul.
As Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Life is available only in the present moment.” So, breathe, be present, and find your inner wealth — you have the tools within you.
Shunryu Suzuki, a Zen Roshi, famously said, “We must exist right here, right now!” How often do we rush through life on autopilot, missing the beauty of a sunrise or the warmth of a loved one’s smile?
A book I recommend: Life Without A Tie
A must read book for anyone at a cross roads in life. An incredibly honest story on the courage to live autonomously and with purpose. How a random, unforeseen series of events helped coach, mentor, facilitator, speaker, writer, and mindfulness teacher Ray Martin strengthen his inner guidance, deepen his humanity, and forge a new, conscious path in life.
This book will fill your heart with courage. Ray shares a personal story of why there’s more to our experiences on earth than simply birth, school, work, and death. Find out what his six rules for happiness are and how you can author your own so that you can connect to your own heart, inner wisdom and strength. Learn more
A concept worth applying: The 5-hour rule
“The "5-hour rule" is a game-changing concept that has been embraced by some of the world's most successful people, from Benjamin Franklin to Elon Musk. It's simple: Dedicate one hour each day, five days a week, to intentional learning, reflection and deep thinking. By carving out this sacred time for personal growth, you'll sharpen your mind, expand your skills and cultivate the discipline needed to achieve greatness.
But here's the best part: Learning doesn't have to mean burying your nose in a book. Dive into engaging podcasts, immerse yourself in thought-provoking articles, or even experiment with new ideas and projects. The key is to approach each learning opportunity with curiosity and an open mind. And when you inevitably face setbacks? Embrace them as valuable lessons, reflect on what you can do differently and use those insights to propel yourself forward.”
Source: The 5-hour rule: How to turn a wasted day into a successful one
Graeme A Forbes (author of Philosophy of Time) on how to think about time
“Time passing helps a lot for doing things. A lot of the time, when you do something, you are aiming to bring about a change. Much of the rest of the time, you are trying to stop something from changing. Thinking in terms of a way things are now, and the way things are supposed to be after you’ve carried out your plans, is really useful. Experiencing things episodically is part of this. Pretty much everyone accepts that it is useful for us to think like this.
But is it useful because we are trapped in an ‘embedded perspective’, where we see things embedded within time, and couldn’t make sense of acting otherwise? Or is it useful because we’re capable of reallychanging things (or preventing them changing), and we need to keep track of those changes over time? Are we just stuck thinking like this, or do we think like this because change is something that we can control (some of the time)?”
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Thanks for reading!
Until next week,
Thomas
Medium | All Courses | The Write Life | Philosophy For Modern Life
Postanly Weekly is now a reader-supported publication. To support my work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription for $7 per month or $40 for an entire year. With a modest yearly contribution you’re not only helping keep Postanly Weekly going, you also get free access to Thinking Toolbox (mental models for life) and Mental Wealth Toolbox (practical concepts for smarter decisions).