33 / My Definition of Wealth. Food. Pain.
The Four Types of Wealth.
Welcome back to Circle Three!
I’m fundraising for an Ironman. For years, I’ve followed triathlon training gurus on social media and newsletters. I’ve dabbled with sprint triathlons and challenged myself at Midstate. I’ve always wanted to do an Ironman. I’ve also always loved music and playlist curation. Now the two are combining!
Based on my fitness level, I’ve decided now is the time, and I’m on a mission to participate for a cause. I’m entering the competition and raising money for local nonprofits in the race communities. (I joined late, and really need contributions quickly.)
The best part: for every $20 YOU can help curate my training playlist with your best (or worst) songs. You can even reply to this email with your selections.
DONATE HERE.
If you know someone who would benefit from reading this each week (or donating and following along my training) share it with them below 👇.
Cheers,
Dan
"What determines your success isn’t, 'What do you want to enjoy?' The relevant question is, 'What pain do you want to sustain?'" — Mark Manson, (Subtle Art of Not Giving a F, p. 38)
Just like I talked about in Choosing Fires, our decisions bring struggle as well. By choosing a path, we invite a particular struggle. Even not making a decision will bring its own challenges. Are your choices bringing welcomed challenges?
"Silicon Valley was the epicenter of innovation." Now, it's time to build. This well-crafted piece takes a look at the shift happening in post-pandemic Silicon Valley. It discusses the need to build robust systems for the future. No longer is disruption a priority, it's time to build.
My triathlon donation page raising money for nonprofits in local race communities is here. Every donation counts, and you can help curate my playlist with a song for every $20 donated! You can also follow along with my training totals here.
Jim Gaffigan quips, "My wife bought me a natural deodorant and printed on the label is DOES NOT WORK." The New Yorker shows us the science behind the question: are natural deodorants really better for you, or is it a marketing ploy?
Did you know Americans only ate 22.4 lbs of chicken per year in 1970 and now eat 54.6, which is the most of any meat? These beautiful charts show how American food consumption has changed through the decades. Avocados have had quite the ride!
I've loved listening to LoFi music during the pandemic. Here's a website with lofi music for every mood with artistic backgrounds. Put it on in the background and enjoy your day.
This teleprompter software for a video presentation proved really useful for a presentation. It listens to your presentation and scrolls for you as you go. A great hack for video recordings or presentations.
What is Enough?
Examining the 4 Types of Wealth and Defining Enough.
(Read this online here.)
"No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don't have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have." — Seneca
But my goodness do I want a Tesla.
That, though is exactly what Seneca is talking about.
Wealth means abundance. It, by definition, is about having more than enough.
Wealth removes worry.
So how can I learn to follow the words of Seneca? And how do I define enough?
As I figure out the balancing act of life, I've been hooked on James Clear's teachings in regards to wealth.
He presents Four Types of Wealth:
Financial wealth (money)
Social wealth (status)
Time wealth (freedom)
Physical wealth (health)
I'd proffer that at any point in life, prosperity is an abundance of your two most highly-valued wealth types. Here are mine.
My Current Wealth Values
We all want to prosper. Whether actively or passively, our actions and attention define our long- and short-term visions of wealth.
For me in this season of life as a twentysomething, my high-value wealth types are time and physical. Time because as a single male I have discretionary time that I can use to learn, create, and explore those things I value. Physical because I have the capability now to physically push myself and be active like I won't be able to do at any other point the rest of my life, due to lack of energy or waning health.
I want to seize those opportunities. Those are my two most-valued pursuits. According to my framework, with both high-value wealths accounted for, I'm prospering. I guess we’ll find out in a few years (or decades) if that framework holds true.
Financial wealth is not a top priority right now. I like subtle comfort, as I wrote, but I'd rather save now for more freedom years or decades down the line. Especially if that means stacking sats to save for the future of currency or investing back into myself through relevant online classes.
My logic is this: Right now I value mobility. The more things I personally own, the less mobile I am, and the less use I get from each one due to marginal utility. (At least this was my mentality when I decided to donate my shirts and cut the amount I own in half.)
I've never been one for prioritizing social status. I believe that will come with time and experience.
The Personal Nature of Wealth
My perspectives reveal a fundamental truth: wealth is extremely personal.
We can participate by setting our own level of satiety: defining what is enough for ourselves.
It is impossible to prosper in wealth and abundance if 'enough' is not defined.
Read that again.
What is the opposite of enough? More.
As I helped clear out my grandparents' house, I thought about a generation of young people not as interested in cabinets full of fine china and accumulating more. Look at a thrift store today and you'll find many people agree.
Our culture sends a message that links happiness to the pursuit of more. Sometimes obsessively. (Because why else would we have 2-day shipping?)
But my point is this: prosperity does not require abundance. Prosperity requires satisfying your self-prescribed level of enough.
"If you can’t find a way to be satisfied with enough, you may never be satisfied with anything," writes Carl Richards of the New York Times.
The idea of more, then, is a desire, not a need.
Instead of focusing on the pursuit of more, I'm learning to appreciate what I already have in abundance and defining what is enough for me.
Get rid of excess shirts.
Don't purchase a new laptop.
Get use out of the things I own, and if I'm not using them, give those things to someone who will.
Freedom with Enough
Enough is often less than we think. I challenge you to (1) understand what your current idea of prosperity looks like and (2) identify the two types of wealth most important to you.
It will give the freedom to prosper according to your own levels of abundance. It might even change your behavior: find yourself spending money and time on the things you want and value, and not spending it on the things you don't.
"The tiny speckles of life are infinitesimal sources of wealth." A peaceful thought to ground myself in my own pursuits of wealth.
🐦 Tweeting:
🔊 Listening: Boat Playlist
📖 Reading (←click for my list and takeaways): No Filter: the inside story of Instagram (aff. link)
➕ Win: Celebrating July 4th with family.
🍺 Untappd:Wallenpaupack Brewing Co
📊 Sidebar: Have any special July 4th traditions? My family joins dozens of others and lights flares around a lake every year.
👁️🗨️ Looking Ahead: Preparing to be a counselor at Leadership & Impact camp during the next couple of weeks.
This week was: More intentional.
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