The Wealth of 'Enough'
December 19th
My life couldn't be happier. In fact, it'd be worse if I had six or eight houses. So, I have everything I need to have, and I don't need any more because it doesn't make a difference after a point.
Wealth is often associated with an abundance of material possessions. Yet there comes a point where the pursuit of more becomes not only unnecessary, but potentially detrimental to your happiness. It's a concept that recognizes the diminishing marginal utility of goods — that after a certain threshold, each additional item adds little to our overall contentment.
As investors, the pursuit of more is a familiar concept: more shares, more properties, higher returns. But this relentless pursuit is worth questioning. Distinguishing between needs and wants, separating the essential from the nonessential, reveals the true nature of 'enough'.
In a culture that frequently equates happiness with material gain, a different perspective emerges: true wealth is found not in what we acquire, but in what we appreciate. The value of contentment and appreciation, rather than accumulation, brings us closer to understanding the nature of happiness and wealth.
For in the realm of investing, and indeed, in life itself, understanding the nature of 'enough' can be the key to unlocking true contentment.
Copyright © 2023 by Scott Sansovich