The focus of this blog post is primarily the subject: “How to become rich?”. Feel free to explore our previous articles if you’re hunting for more insights on wealth creation.
There are four independent paths leading to prosperity:
1. Financial Wealth – Defined by your monetary resources.
2. Spiritual Wealth – A challenging status to achieve that might render financial wealth insignificant once attained.
3. Emotional Wealth – Plenitude of soul, experienced through genuine self-expression. It’s a continuous practice to sustain this sense of wealth. Consider taking a look at my previous write-ups on emotional wealth.
4. Social Wealth – Accumulated through substantial social influence.
Notably, maintaining excellent health is a fundamental aspect of wealth that straddles all these categories.
Why should good health be associated with wealth?
The answer is straightforward. Illness implies expenditure. Apart from the financial burden, illness can cause social discomfort, take a toll on one’s cherished relationships and hinder meaningful engagement with life. Furthermore, ill-health might disturb your emotional balance. Even though a lot of health issues can be tackled medicinally through investment, it is wiser to sidestep such problems by adopting a proactive approach towards a healthier lifestyle, therefore limiting our vulnerability to age-related disorders.
To put the monetary impact in perspective, Kaiser Health Foundation reported that the average per person spending on health in the US in 2009, was over $8,000 annually. Over an average lifetime, that adds up to nearly a million dollars!
The adage “Health is Wealth” is very relevant here. Being healthy motivates you to strive harder, potentially extending your work lifecycle. Through simple home workouts, you can start working on your physical wellbeing. This will not only cut down your healthcare costs but give you more opportunities to enjoy your wealth, travel, and do things that demand a certain level of physical fitness.
From my own experience, I spend about $200 every two weeks on health insurance, amounting to $5,600 annually. Our Aetna plan, which includes a $2,400 yearly deductible, requires a co-pay of 10% after the deductible is met. Therefore, we spend more than $7,000 annually on healthcare, a figure that grows with each passing year.
Furthermore, the treatment of certain diseases might require an expenditure surpassing one’s insurance cover’s lifetime cap. This implies that under specific circumstances, one’s entire savings are at risk. Even with the deductible met, a drawn-out hospitalization can significantly drain your savings.
Decompressing to lead a wealthier, healthier lifestyle
Stress is a hindrance to wealth and healthy living as it encourages poor decision-making and can lead to serious health conditions, like heart disease and depression. Regular exercise helps in stress management by discharging endorphins and endorsing healthier food choices. For more tips on managing stress, refer to our article titled, Manage Stress In Your Life.
The lessons learned amid the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for maintaining good health, not merely for physical appeal but for sheer survival. It highlighted the importance of balanced eating, regular exercise, adequate sleep, cautious food preparation, efficient healthcare systems, proactive participation in managing our health, and the need for self-reliance during crises.
COVID-19 has also impacted mental health, with a 20% increase in hospital visits for mental health conditions observed since the onset of the pandemic. A combination of stress related to COVID-19 fears, anxieties regarding loved ones’ well-being, and other related challenges might have driven this surge. The CDC provides several recommendations for maintaining good mental health during these times.
Healthy living can be ensured by:
1. Purifying the soul, sustaining happiness: Nurture positive emotions and thoughts for a healthier mind and body. Aim to view all without prejudice; this will enrich your life. Positivity benefits in multiple ways.
2. Regular Exercise: Regular workouts help maintain weight and prevent hypertension while improving muscle strength, endurance, and overall disposition.
3. Healthy, balanced eating: Monitor your diet for controlled calorie intake, eating proportionately, avoid skipping meals, especially breakfast, and eat at least 3 hours before bedtime.
4. Proper Rest and Sleep: Adequate sleep keeps your body and mind rejuvenated. Sleep deprivation can lead to memory issues, depression, and weakened immunity.
5. Dental Care: Dental hygiene and regular cleanup should not be neglected. A charming smile has a positive impact on your journey to wealth.
It’s crucial to remember that maintaining healthy habits won’t prevent all diseases, and professional medical attention is necessary for persistent health concerns. Over-exercising should be avoided, and rest is essential when needed.