After navigating life for nearly four decades, I’ve arrived at a stark realization: there are fundamentally only two ways we use money. Every dollar spent ultimately falls into one of these two categories.
The first views money as a tool. It’s a means to an end, serving a purpose beyond itself. This is money used to truly enrich your life and the lives of others. Think of it as investing in your personal growth, supporting those you care about, facilitating meaningful experiences that deepen your connections, or amplifying the positive impact your work has on the world. On this path, money becomes a lever for purpose and fulfillment.
The second and only other use of money is to accumulate stuff to show off to others. This isn’t about practical needs or genuine meaning. It’s about external validation, projecting an image, all driven by a desire to impress.
And that’s it. Every time you spend your money, you’re doing one of the two. And no, you can’t do both at the same time, because accumulating stuff to show off is inherently meaningless.
If you tend to do more of the latter, satisfaction will always be out of your reach. If you don’t start seriously reevaluating your values, you will have spent an entire life devoid of meaning.
