Material surplus
that produces freedom.
Wealth measured not by quantity of things,
but by the quality of experience.
What constitutes wealth?
Throughout history, many cultures have defined wealth as material surplus — possession of things and capabilities that exceeds basic survival needs.
At the individual level, this definition has led the spoils of a society’s efforts to concentrate disproportionately in the hands of a few.
We’re not debating wealth inequality, some level of which is inevitable, and even fair, in a society with different risk appetites and skillsets.
We are simply observing that the correlation between material abundance and a life rich in joy, settledness, and deep relationships is weak, seems to be getting weaker, and often requires different skillsets than those that drove the accumulation to begin with.
Material surplus is of little use if we don’t know how to relate to it. And developing that skill is itself a practice.
What is wealth?
-
Presence
The ability to be with what is actually happening — because joy and settledness can only occur in the present moment. Ironically, many modern conceptions of wealth emphasize escapism and thrill.
-
Relationships
As humans, we derive meaning from other humans. Full stop. When our relationships are rich, we are nourished. When they are poor, they detract from us — no matter how much money or stuff we have.
-
Reverence
The world is full of beauty. Some of that beauty is scarce and therefore expensive, though much of it is free. Reverence is witnessing through gratitude and awe — not status-oriented consumption that diminishes our own worth.
-
Restraint
Our time and attention are finite. If we are present to what nourishes us, our needs are finite too. Consuming past the point of nourishment is gluttony — especially when we mistake envy for love.
Audit your wealth for yourself.
The following four categories are a good place to start assessing your wealth. You may have more, or less, than you think.
-
Nourishment
Where do you find nourishment? Look to the places, people, activities, and sustenance make you feel settled and joyful, especially when you are inhabiting them for yourself, not to be seen by others as having wealth.
-
Reactivity
What causes reactivity in your life? For most of us, the list is long... People, money, current events, the future, the things you consume, your own body, being seen absent your success. Take inventory.
-
Relationships
Who do you spend the most time around, and what is the effect? What behaviors and feelings do these people promote in you? Who do you care the most about, and how is that going?
-
Consumption
What do you put into your body and mind, and what effect does it have? This includes food, drink, what you read and watch, what you buy, and anything else you consume.
Aiming your wealth, and the “never enough” challenge.
Think of wealth as surplus votes, both at personal level, and for your impact on the world.
Depending on the orientation of your own somatic state, the following voting patterns tend to emerge.
Reactive
The reactive paradigm, which characterizes most of the way modern society approaches wealth, has three primary strategies:
- Love-seeking: where we expect that our possession of material things will lead us to be accepted for who we are.
- Escape: where we isolate ourselves to the company of wealthy people, or consume to distract ourselves from discomfort.
- Fortification: where we become so attached to our wealth that our lives reorient around its defense.
All three of these strategies subtract from our own settledness and joy, and they accelerate momentum away from a nourishing world.
Nourished
Nourished wealth, which emerges from nourished humans, focuses on:
- Advancing nourishment: in both our own lives and those of others.
- At appropriate scale: some of us prefer to work on species-level problems, while others prefer to act locally.
One challenge that nourished humans face is that the default allocation of their capital furthers a reactive paradigm.
Security & Collapse
It is fashionable to worry about the collapse of the current world order, whether through social unrest, climate crisis, economic upheaval, or geopolitical chaos. These outcomes are significantly overhyped by reactive cycles themselves.
If you are really worried about collapse, consider that your relationships and your nervous system are the most valuable assets in a civilizational reset that truly does obliterate money as we know it.
Also, that collapse will not happen if we learn how to nourish ourselves at scale.
Our services
Wealth nourishment.
Wealth & Allocation Audits
Reviewing your financial and non-financial posture relative to what nourishes you.
Personal Practice
Developing the capacity to reduce reactivity and increase nourishment.
Ride-along Facilitation
Navigating specific objects or events, especially ones that have charge.
Proprietary Investments
Long-horizon opportunities in nourishing businesses.
Start a conversation.
