Chasing Wealth, Missing Life: Why We Must Reclaim Purpose on This Planet We Rent
In the modern world, the pursuit of wealth has become a dominant force shaping human behavior, societal values, and global priorities. From early education to career choices, financial success is often positioned as the ultimate goal. Yet, in this relentless chase for money, most individuals overlook the deeper essence of life itself. We are not permanent residents of this planet—we are temporary renters. Read that again. We are temporary renters of this Earth, part of a chosen few who have been granted the rare privilege to experience life here. As we obsess over accumulating wealth, we quietly drift away from the essence of life itself. The more we chase wealth, the more we forget how to live.
Last Updated: January 21, 2025
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed financial advisor, financial planner, tax professional, attorney, or employment consultant. The information provided in this blog is intended solely for general informational and educational purposes. It should not be interpreted or construed as professional advice regarding financial, legal, tax, employment, or career matters. Always consult with a qualified professional before making decisions related to your finances, investments, legal obligations, employment, or taxes.
This blog explores the consequences of wealth-driven living, the illusion of ownership, and the transformative power of intentional, purpose-driven existence. It offers practical insights for those seeking to reclaim their time, energy, purpose, and attention in a world that constantly demands more.
The Myth of Ownership in a Temporary World
Ownership is a powerful concept. It gives a sense of control, security, and identity. But when viewed through the lens of impermanence, ownership becomes an illusion. No one truly owns land, time, or even their own body indefinitely. Everything we possess is borrowed, from the resources we consume to the space we occupy.
This illusion of permanence can fuel unsustainable consumption, environmental degradation, and social inequality. It may encourage individuals to prioritize acquisition over appreciation, and possession over presence. Recognizing our role as stewards rather than owners invites a shift toward sustainability, humility, and gratitude.
When was the last time you felt truly humble? When did you last laugh—really laugh? When was the last time you sat down, talked, and spent uninterrupted time with the people you love? Pause for a moment. Ask yourself.
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The Wealth Trap: When Earning Becomes Existing
The pursuit of financial success is not inherently negative. Economic stability can provide comfort, safety, security, opportunity, and freedom. However, when wealth becomes the sole measure of success and the primary reason to exist and work, it can lead to a life of imbalance and disconnection. This fixation may steer you away from your true path, leaving you uncertain of your deeper purpose and the reason you are here at all. Billions of individuals may have fallen into the wealth trap—a cycle where income increases but satisfaction diminishes. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “hedonic treadmill,” describes how people quickly adapt to new levels of wealth and continue to seek more, without experiencing lasting happiness or ever living life.
This cycle may often be reinforced by societal norms, media narratives, and cultural expectations. The outcome is a population that works longer hours, compromises personal well-being, drifts away from family, and postpones joy, all in pursuit of a future that promises financial security. But what if that future never comes? What if the price of chasing wealth is the very life we were meant to live?
Rediscovering the Art of Living
Living is more than existing. It is about experiencing, feeling, growing, and connecting. Yet, in a world dominated by productivity metrics and performance indicators, the art of living is often neglected.
To live fully means to be present in each moment, to find joy in simplicity, and to cultivate your inner peace. It may require slowing down, listening to one’s inner voice, and aligning daily actions with personal values. This shift from doing to being can lead to greater fulfillment, resilience, and clarity.
Practical ways to rediscover the art of living may include:
- Practicing mindfulness: Engage fully with your surroundings and sensations.
- Setting boundaries: Protect your time and energy from unnecessary distractions.
- Prioritizing rest: Recognize rest as a vital component of productivity and creativity.
- Engaging in creative expression: Explore activities that can help nourish your spirit and imagination.
Sustainable Living: A Conscious Choice
Sustainable living is not just about reducing waste or conserving energy; it’s about living in alignment with the planet’s rhythms and respecting its limits. It may involve making choices that support ecological balance, social equity, and personal well-being.
Key principles of sustainable living may include:
- Mindful consumption: Buy only what is needed and choose products with minimal environmental impact. Know the difference between true needs and desirable wants.
- Resource conservation: Use water, energy, and materials efficiently and responsibly. Never take anything for granted. They may not be available to us tomorrow.
- Community engagement: Support local initiatives and foster collective well-being.
- Ethical decision-making: Consider the broader impact of personal and professional choices.
By embracing sustainability, individuals can help reduce their ecological footprint, support regenerative systems, and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.
Redefining Success in a Hyper-Competitive World
Success is often portrayed as a linear path marked by corporate promotions, material possessions, and societal prestige. However, this narrow definition may exclude many dimensions of human flourishing. True success is multidimensional, and it may encompass emotional intelligence, ethical integrity, creative expression, and spiritual growth.
To redefine success, these attributes may be considered:
- Clarify your values: Identify what truly matters to you beyond external validation. Introspect and see what is lurking inside you.
- Set holistic goals: Include personal, relational, and community-oriented aspirations.
- Celebrate progress: Acknowledge small wins and incremental growth.
- Embrace failure: View setbacks as opportunities for learning and resilience.
This broader perspective can empower individuals to pursue a life that is not only successful but also meaningful and aligned with their authentic selves.
The Cost of Constant Distraction
In the digital age, attention has become one of our most valuable and most exploited of all resources. Everywhere we turn, someone or something is vying for it. With the overwhelming saturation of information, our minds are bombarded by external noise.
Notifications, advertisements, and an endless stream of content compete for mental bandwidth, leaving little space for reflection, stillness, or genuine presence. This constant state of distraction can fracture our focus, elevate stress, and quietly erode the quality of our lives.
Strategies for reclaiming attention may include:
- Digital detoxing: Schedule regular breaks from screens and social media.
- Single-tasking: Focus on one activity at a time to enhance depth and efficiency.
- Creating tech-free zones: Designate spaces for rest, connection, and creativity. No phones or TVs in bedrooms.
- Practicing digital mindfulness: Use technology intentionally rather than habitually.
By protecting attention, individuals can enhance cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. And for a change, live life the way nature intended.
Minimalism: The Freedom of Less
Minimalism is a lifestyle that emphasizes intentionality and simplicity. It challenges the notion that more is better and invites individuals to focus on what truly adds value to their lives.
Benefits of minimalism may include:
- Reduced stress: Fewer possessions may mean less clutter and fewer decisions.
- Increased freedom: Less attachment to material goods may allow for greater mobility and flexibility.
- Enhanced clarity: A simplified environment can help support mental and emotional clarity.
- Deeper gratitude: Focusing on essentials can help foster appreciation and inner contentment.
Minimalism is not about deprivation. It’s about liberation from the excesses and distractions in life.
Global Awareness and Ethical Living
In an interconnected world, individual choices may have global consequences. Ethical living may involve recognizing this interconnectedness and acting with compassion, responsibility, and foresight.
Practices that can support ethical living may include:
- Supporting fair trade: Choose products that uphold labor rights and environmental standards.
- Reducing carbon footprint: opt for sustainable transportation and energy sources.
- Advocating for justice: Use your voice and resources to support equitable policies.
- Practicing empathy: Seek to understand diverse perspectives and myriad experiences.
Ethical living is a commitment to integrity, accountability, and the collective well-being of all.
Self-Inquiry: The Foundation of Fulfillment
Self-inquiry is the process of exploring one’s beliefs, desires, and motivations. It is a powerful tool for personal growth and alignment. By asking meaningful questions, individuals can uncover their true purpose and make choices that reflect their inner truth.
Questions to help guide self-inquiry:
- Who am I and how did I get here?
- What brings me joy and fulfillment?
- What values guide my decisions?
- What fears hold me back from living fully?
- Why am I here, and what is the purpose of my existence?
- Am I living or existing each day?
- Why am I waking up each morning? Why wake up at all?
- Am I here to study, work, have a family, pay bills, and die off one fine day, and when that happens, no one would ever notice? The World will still go on.
- Am I chasing money all my life, never to live it?
- What legacy do I want to leave behind?
- What do I own when I am just renting this Planet?
- During my brief stay here, how has my presence benefited others?
Through self-inquiry, individuals can cultivate authenticity, resilience, and know their true inner purpose.
Designing a Life of Intention
Intentional living is about making conscious choices that align with one’s values and vision. It may involve clarity, commitment, and courage. Designing a life of intention means curating experiences, relationships, and routines that help support holistic well-being.
Steps to live intentionally may include:
- Define your priorities: Identify what matters most and allocate time accordingly.
- Create supportive habits: Build routines that can help nurture your body, mind, and soul.
- Eliminate distractions: Remove activities and commitments that may tend to drain energy from you.
- Reflect regularly: Assess progress, adjust, and course correct as needed.
Living with intention helps transform mere existence into a rich experience, and routine into something deeply meaningful.
Embracing the Mystery of Life
Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived. Embracing uncertainty can help foster curiosity, creativity, and courage. It invites individuals to release control and trust the unfolding journey.
Ways to embrace mystery may include:
- Practice openness: Welcome new experiences and perspectives.
- Cultivate awe: Notice beauty in the ordinary and the extraordinary.
- Let go of perfection: Accept imperfection as part of the human experience.
- Trust the process: Believe in the wisdom of life’s timing and flow.
Embracing mystery can help deepen presence, expand awareness, and enrich the authentic human experience.
The Legacy of Conscious Living
The impact of a life well-lived may extend beyond the individual. Conscious living can leave a legacy of kindness, wisdom, and inspiration. It can help uplift others, honor the planet, and contribute to a more compassionate world.
Building a meaningful legacy may include:
- Live your values: Let your actions reflect your beliefs.
- Serve others: Offer time, skills, and resources to help support collective growth.
- Share your story: Inspire others through your journey and insights.
- Model integrity: Be a living example of conscious and ethical living.
Legacy isn’t measured by what we accumulate, but by the ripple effect of how we choose to live while we are alive.
A reflection and a Perspective
We are just renters on this planet, entrusted with a brief moment in time. In the pursuit of wealth, many may have forgotten the essence of life itself. But it is never too late to pause, reflect, and realign. By embracing simplicity, cultivating presence, and living with intention, individuals can reclaim their lives from the grip of distraction and rediscover what it means to truly live life to the fullest and on one’s own terms.
This reclamation is not a rejection of ambition or success; it is a redefinition of one’s definition of success. It is the conscious choice to prioritize meaning over materialism, connection over competition, and purpose over possessions. It is the recognition that life is not a transaction but a transformation.
Practical Steps to Reclaim Purpose and Presence
To shift from wealth-driven living to purpose-driven existence, you may choose to consider integrating these practical strategies into daily life:
- Daily reflection: Set aside time each day to review your thoughts, actions, and intentions. Journaling or silent contemplation can help foster clarity, its inner meaning, and emotional balance.
- Value-based planning: Align your calendar and commitments with your core values. Prioritize activities that can help nourish your well-being and support your long-term vision.
- Mindful consumption: Before making purchases, ask whether the item adds genuine value to your life or simply satisfies a fleeting desire. This practice can help reduce clutter and enhance financial awareness.
- Digital boundaries: Establish clear limits around screen time, notifications, and online engagement. Create space for offline experiences and deeper, meaningful connections.
- Nature immersion: Spend regular time in natural environments to help reconnect with the rhythms of the planet and cultivate inner peace.
- Purposeful movement: Engage in physical activities that can help promote vitality, such as walking, stretching, or mindful exercise. Movement can support mental clarity and emotional resilience.
- Intentional relationships: Invest in connections that uplift, challenge, and inspire growth. Practice active listening, empathy, and genuine presence in every interaction. Choose relationships rooted in authenticity: those that add meaning to your life and release those that are toxic, consistently drain your energy, or compromise your well-being.
These steps are not rigid rules but flexible tools. They may serve as reminders that life is a canvas, and each choice is a brushstroke. By living intentionally, individuals can craft a life of meaning, joy, and impact that is uniquely their own, one not shaped by societal expectations, but guided by personal truth and purpose.
The Ripple Effect of Conscious Living
When individuals choose to live consciously, the effects can extend far beyond personal well-being. Conscious living may help influence families, communities, workplaces, and ecosystems. It can foster cultures of compassion, innovation, and sustainability.
This ripple effect begins with awareness and expands through action. It can transform passive existence into active engagement. It can turn routine into ritual and obligation into opportunity. Conscious living is a catalyst for collective evolution.
By embracing this way of life, individuals can contribute to a world that values presence over performance, purpose over profit, and people over possessions. They may thus become agents of change, architects of harmony, and stewards of the future.
A Call to Reawaken
The time to reawaken is now. The planet we rent is calling for care, and the life we live is asking for meaning. The chase for wealth has its place, but it must not eclipse the pursuit of wisdom, wonder, and well-being.
Reawakening involves remembering what truly matters. It means stepping off the treadmill of accumulation and stepping into the sanctuary of awareness. It is a return to self, to soul, our being, and to the sacredness of existence itself.
Conclusion: Living Lightly, Loving Deeply
We are not owners; we are guests on this Planet taking up space and utilizing its resources. And we are not machines, we are miracles.
Living lightly means releasing the weight of excess and embracing the freedom of enough. It means walking gently on the earth, speaking kindly to others, and listening deeply to oneself. It is a lifestyle of grace, gratitude, simplicity, humbleness, humility, acceptance, and groundedness.
In the end, the true measure of one’s life isn’t found in bank accounts, lofty titles, or polished accolades—all of which are constructs of a business-driven world and are completely artificial. But it is found in moments of meaning, acts of kindness, and the legacy of love. By choosing to live with intention, we honor the gift of life, the privilege of presence, and the rare chance to exist on this planet. It’s an invitation to live life as it was meant to be—fully, consciously, and purposefully.
Let this be a reminder: the planet is not ours to conquer or possess—it is ours to protect and cherish. And this life is not ours to waste—it is ours to live. So, live it fully, intentionally, and on your own terms, just as nature intended. Not artificially, but naturally—just as you are. Innocent, naïve, and authentically yourself. Live it for you and not for anyone else. This is your life, and only you can choose how to live it. We have all arrived in this world ignorant and bare, and we will all depart in the same way. So why sweat it? Just live it.
Join the conversation! Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s keep the discussion going.
Foundational readings for big shifts:
- How to Track Spending without Getting Overwhelmed
- The 7-Day Money Reset Plan: Take Back Control In Just One Week
- Are You Throwing Away $5,000 a Year on Food Waste Without Realizing It?
- The Real Cost of Owning a Big Home
- The Psychology of Spending: Why We Overspend and How to Stop It
- Mastering the Envelope Method
Author: Vaidya Selvan
Welcome to Make Money Unstoppable Personal Finance Made Simple, a blog born out of necessity, a space created from real-life experiences, hard-earned lessons, and a deep-seated desire to share what I wish someone had taught me or had known sooner.
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