Elon Musk is, apparently, the richest man in the world. But what does 'rich' actually mean?
The typical metric is financial wealth - money that buys power and huge influence. From a distance, that kind of richness seems rather moreish.
But it is rather a narrow definition too, as I don’t get the sense that Musk is particularly content or fulfilled. Maybe I am wrong.
And this hints at the misguided essence of success evangelism. The idea that ‘success’ in a few narrow but highly valued metrics - financial wealth, material accumulation, power, fame, popularity and so one - are synonymous with contentment and peace of mind (which, I suggest, we all want).
There is nothing wrong with trying to achieve big things, as long as you don’t expect them to make you happy. The amount of people who have reached the top of their proverbial Everest - whether in sport, business or celebrity - and left feeling empty is vast.
So what’s the alternative? I think Alan Watts had it right when he said:
‘The real secret of life is to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realise it is play.’
Life zips by, and the destination is the same for all of us. Before long, no one will remember who any of us are. Case in point: do you know who was the richest person 100 years ago? Or the name of your Great Great Grandparents? No, me neither.
Life therefore is not to be won, or rushed through; it is to be experienced.
Every single moment is suffused with a miraculous nature, if we are able to recognise it. For example, I can hold my hand up in front of my face and wiggle my fingers, but I’ve no idea how. How cool is that?!
That magic extends even to the difficult times we’re all destined to go through. It doesn’t mean we will like them, but understanding that suffering is inevitable brings a certain peace.
I really appreciate people who are able to recognise the messiness of life, and love it for how it is, not how we think it should be. Which brings me to
, who I had the pleasure of speaking to on A New Way of Being this week, and whose writing I first discovered here on Substack.This is what Shiv had to say about the value of seeing life with clarity, which really resonated with me (you can watch his fuller take in the video above).
I don't see life as something that you're supposed to constantly improve and get better at and finally get a handle on, but a dance that you learn to engage with on a day to day basis.”
Shiv had a profound awakening experience as a young man, which he describes in our podcast conversation, but he doesn’t cling to that experience as more profound or important than any other moment of his life - including periods of deep suffering.
Life is an ongoing miracle, even in the moments we curse it. See that clearly, and a sense of background calm - even relief - descends.
As for lessons from Musk? Wealth is quantified in many ways. For me, it’s found in health, family, friends, fun, relaxation, time, nature, connection - and our ability to engage with life as it is and revel in its unexplainable miraculous nature.
But to each their own!
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