Wealth can be used to improve life (e.g., buying time) or to measure status. The former has a functional ceiling, after which people often pivot to the less fulfilling game of using money as a social scorecard.

The ultimate goal of accumulating money is not to hoard it but to use it as a tool to buy back your time. True wealth is the ability to control your daily schedule and spend your hours on things you love, which is a more meaningful metric than a net worth figure.

Be very careful who you socialize with, as they will set your baseline expectations for a "normal" life. It's much easier to be content when your reference group has a similar lifestyle. Constant exposure to people with dramatically higher wealth makes lifestyle inflation and discontent almost inevitable.

We often trade hidden metrics of a good life, like peace of mind or a short commute, for observable metrics like a high salary or prestigious title. This is a bad trade because we sacrifice the actual desired state (happiness) for a proxy (money) that often fails to deliver.

Most people view money solely as a means to purchase goods. The wealthy mindset sees it as a tool to generate more money and, ultimately, buy financial freedom—the option to work because you want to, not because you have to. This reframing is key to building wealth.

Comparing your wealth and possessions to others is an endless, unwinnable cycle of jealousy. True financial contentment comes not from having more than others, but from using money as a tool for a better life, independent of social hierarchy.

Earning more money acts as a lever on your pre-existing emotional state. It can enhance the lives of already joyful people but will not resolve underlying depression or anxiety. Money is a tool for leverage, not a prescription for happiness itself.

Wealth is excellent at preventing problems and reducing "bad days" (e.g., financial stress). However, it doesn't necessarily increase the frequency or intensity of "good days." Thinking of money like a vaccine—preventing disease—is more accurate than seeing it as a performance-enhancing drug for happiness.

Beyond a certain threshold, net worth can stop providing happiness and become a social burden. When friends, family, and the community become aware of one's wealth, their expectations change, creating social pressures and liabilities that can outweigh the financial benefits and diminish overall well-being.