Unlocking the Real Riches: Navigating the Wealth-Health Balance for a Fulfilling Life
When we envision retirement, it's often through the lens of financial security. From the time we enter high school, the narrative of retirement planning revolves around investments, pensions, and super/ 401(k)s. Advertisements depict idyllic scenes of retirees enjoying their golden years, subtly suggesting that financial prowess is the key to a blissful retirement.
Our lives are largely viewed through an economic prism. Inheriting a world driven by capitalism, our pursuit of financial stability often overshadows other aspects of our humanity. Yet, striking a balance between financial prosperity and holistic well-being remains one of life's greatest challenges.
The pursuit of wealth can consume us, leading to a life where material possessions overshadow meaningful experiences. As we accumulate more, the desire for even greater wealth becomes insatiable, often at the cost of neglecting our health, relationships, and personal fulfilment.
But true wealth extends beyond monetary riches. It encompasses vibrant health, fulfilling relationships, and a life rich in experiences. My conversations with individuals like Lou and my Pop, who prioritized health over wealth, underscored the importance of this holistic approach.
In our quest for health, simplicity often reigns supreme. Returning to basics, such as consuming whole foods and fostering positive relationships, forms the cornerstone of well-being. Embracing a balanced lifestyle that includes nourishing food, regular movement, and meaningful connections can lead to profound improvements in overall health.
In today's fast-paced world, exercise has become commodified and often lacks enjoyment. Instead of viewing movement as a chore, we should embrace playful activities that bring joy and vitality. By reframing exercise as movement and incorporating activities that we genuinely enjoy, we can cultivate a sustainable and fulfilling approach to fitness.
My personal journey reflects this shift from rigorous training to mindful movement. By prioritizing rest, relaxation, and activities that bring me joy, I've achieved optimal health and vitality without succumbing to the pressures of traditional exercise culture.
In essence, my motto for health encapsulates a holistic and interconnected approach: prioritize real food, meaningful movement, and enriching experiences. By aligning our actions with our values and reevaluating what truly matters, we can cultivate a life of abundance and fulfilment.
Ultimately, the pursuit of wealth should not come at the expense of our health and well-being. By embracing a balanced approach that prioritizes both financial stability and holistic health, we can create a life that is truly rich in every sense of the word. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, let us remember that true wealth lies not in material possessions, but in the richness of our experiences and the vitality of our health.
When we hone in on any one thing in isolation, we fail to connect the dots and then may fail to enjoy optimal well-being. And if you want to get into great health, that is great, to feel and look good is admirable, but we often leave so much at the door. We think we just need to smash ourselves at the gym each morning, meeting the same energy coming in, as going out. I.e calories. But, that leaves out where we exercise, when and who with whom. And, even that we need to tread with care. Daniel Lieberman in his book, Exercised, says we exercise far too much, that we never actually evolved to exercise, and his book points the way towards more enjoyable and physically active living in the modern world. Those 2 points are worth pondering - the modern world - Rushing off in the car to the air-conditioned gym before sitting for 12 hours at the desk, and secondly - more enjoyable. Modern exercise for so many is anything but enjoyable - but has become something they have to do. Not enjoying yourself is Nietzsche’s definition of original sin. Even Thich Nhat Hanh’s definition of Buddhism is so you have a clever way to enjoy yourself. So much of what we’ve created in terms of health; food, exercise etc. is not very enjoyable. So many people I know exercise every day - and they look - and more importantly feel - pretty bad. Perhaps because when we fail to connect the dots we live out of alignment and balance. We exercise for the wrong reasons, certainly not for joy, and in doing so we rub up against barriers and considerable frictions like stress, cortisol, a job we hate, relationships we ignore, and food we can’t understand. I don’t exercise, I haven’t for years, in fact, I rarely use the word - maybe because it has become too commoditized and manipulated. Instead, I prefer movement. Because it is pretty cool to have a body that moves. I prefer to play. When we are serious we always press for a specific conclusion, killing possibility - adding stress - killing joy - and adding more stress - obviously a huge barrier to health. I used to train every day, hard, in all kinds of gyms, but now I don’t even train every day; I rest, I stretch, I roll, I go for slow walks, I read. And, I’ve never been in better shape, never been fitter, never looked better. I can still run 50km, pump out 20 chin-ups, box 12 rounds, and forgive my French and self-indulgence, I’m still ripped to shreds.
So I want to whip up my own motto for health, a holistic, interconnected one.
“Eat real food that grows ripens and rots, like what our ancestors did but we quickly forgot. Eat mostly plants, with friends, slowly, with no TV, and don’t eat too much. Move your body, not too much, with friends, in nature, be playful, and enjoy yourself. Move your mind, deeply, consider, examine - yourself and your conditions - meditate, think for yourself. Find meaningful work, spend time with people you love, often, and do the things you love, often. Rest.”
Great health. Is a sign of balance, integration, desires, cravings, choices, and values. We quickly see that it all connects - not only everything in this list of 12 ideas to construct a life worth living - but everything in life. Are you investing in the right things? Are you valuing the right things?
Is there something you are putting off again and again that you say you will pick up once you’ve ticked off the list of more important things?
Are you waking up at 4am every day to race in the car to the gym, all the time thinking or stressing about the big meeting at 9am. When perhaps sleeping in and grabbing a coffee with a mate could be much better for your health. Are you 40, and working your ass off to pay for the home and to send the kids to a nice school, when you are overweight, aren’t enjoying your life, and could fall dead at any minute? Do you have great biceps when you haven’t had an honest conversation with your wife in 12 months? Is your bank account accessed more than your heart, your sense of humour, or your ability to create joy?
The old productivity trap. The hustle culture, the 4am wake-ups, where does it take you? Where do you end up? We need to be wary of the people spruiking these things - are they making money from this? Books, courses, talks, workshops? Is a tired person a better capitalist?
We must tread this path with great care; the wealth/health balancing act requires deep examination and great care.
Want to find out how to find the balance between great health and wealth? Schedule a coaching call with Evan Sutter.