What Else Is There Beyond Being Super Rich?
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a lot more. In fact, possibly everything beyond the immediate bottom two tiers of the hierarchy can be considered beyond mere financial success.
Money as a Means to an End
Money is merely a tool, a solution to a problem, rather than an end in itself. It facilitates the ability to store value in a more stable and transferable form, making it a crucial means for achieving more tangible goals. However, the ends are always above the means, and without them, the means themselves would lose their significance.
In essence, money helps address our baseline needs—safety and security. It ensures that our most basic needs are met and that we can feel confident they will continue to be met. But the upper tiers of Maslow's hierarchy—love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization—are achieving through internal satisfaction and personal development, not financial means alone.
The Limitations of Money
It is often said that money can't buy happiness or true fulfillment. While it can certainly aid in fulfilling some of these needs, it is neither the sole nor necessary means to achieve them. For instance, the education I am pursuing financially, while valuable, is not a prerequisite for personal growth. I do not need a more advanced degree to be successful in my current career, which already relies on different skill sets. Instead, I am pursuing this education because it aligns with my aspirations as a person, a pursuit that money can facilitate but not guarantee.
The Urgency of Basic Needs
The difficulty in prioritizing deeper pursuits often arises when our immediate basic needs are unmet. For example, the pursuit of philosophy or even higher education can feel secondary when one is in dire circumstances. In such situations, tangible, immediate solutions like food and shelter are prioritized. This does not diminish the value of the philosophical pursuits; they are simply less urgent in that situation.
True Success Beyond Wealth
Understanding and experiencing true success requires recognizing that what lies beyond financial wealth is the upper tiers of Maslow's hierarchy. These encompass the human pursuit for love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. True success is not solely defined by material wealth but by personal fulfillment and growth. It's about cultivating meaningful experiences, building strong relationships, and achieving a sense of purpose.
Conclusion
The journey to true success involves recognizing and addressing our deep-seated needs beyond financial wealth. By aligning personal goals with these fundamental aspects of life, we can achieve a more meaningful and fulfilling existence. Understanding the limitations of money and embracing the pursuit of higher aspirations is a key step towards realizing true success.