When we scroll through social media, we often see successful people and think, “I want to be like them.”
But because their possessions and achievements look so different from our own, we become overly aware of what we don’t have.
This mindset of scarcity drives us into excessive effort, always chasing what is missing.
Ironically, those very people we admire often did not work as hard as we imagine—yet they somehow built great wealth.
What makes the difference?
It is a shift in perspective: stop counting what is missing and start counting what you already have.
This small shift can dramatically change the direction of your life.
Emotions Are Relative, Not Absolute
Our feelings and perceptions are not absolute; they are relative.
You may think you lack many things, but from another person’s perspective, you may already possess much more than they do.
The truth is that successful people are not necessarily holding more than you—they are simply able to see what you cannot yet see.
The Imbalance of the World
This world is full of imbalance, and from those distortions, opportunities arise.
Yes, you can use those distortions to make money.
But money earned in this way does not truly contribute to society unless it is circulated back.
Many of the people who appear successful today are, in fact, applying this principle: they profit from distortions and then reinvest into society.
The First Step: Allowing Unexpected Gains
As a starting point, learn to accept occasional windfalls—the lucky breaks that life provides—so long as they do not harm others.
This is part of learning to use the distortions of the world wisely.
Effort and Contribution in Capitalism
In a capitalist society, building great wealth through effort alone is nearly impossible.
But once you reach the next stage of life, living happily without contribution is also impossible.
True fulfillment requires both:
- Recognizing the abundance you already have
- Using the wealth you gain to contribute to others
Only then can success and happiness be sustained.
