Am I Rich? An Essay on Wealth, Poverty, and the Illusion of Abundance

natalyakamps
Sep 11
3 min read

The question "Am I rich?" may seem simple at first glance.

Many would immediately think of possessions, income, or wealth. Yet, the more closely you examine it, the clearer it becomes: wealth is less an external status than an inner state—and this state manifests differently across generations.

The Legacy of Poverty

Older generations in Europe, shaped by wars and post-war periods, knew poverty not as a story but as a daily reality. For them, wealth was tangible: enough food, a roof over their heads, security for their children.

Even when many achieved material prosperity through hard work, old patterns persisted:

excessive saving,
hoarding things "just in case,"
denying themselves pleasures—even when it was no longer necessary.

Thus, external wealth can exist while inner scarcity remains.

Younger Generations in the Crossfire

Younger generations often grow up in abundance. For them, opportunities like education, travel, and digital connectivity are taken for granted.

Some use this abundance as a springboard, striving for self-realization, innovation, and freedom.
Others lose themselves in the digital world, seduced by mass media, consumer offers, and the illusion of quick online gains. They chase clicks, trends, and shortcuts, often overlooking that true wealth lies not in the superficial, but in depth.

In this way, two experiences coexist: some carry the scars of scarcity, others the emptiness of excess.

External Wealth – Material

Material wealth represents real freedom:

It provides security, access to education, healthcare, and the ability to live autonomously.
It enables risk-taking, experimentation, and an actively shaped life.

Yet material prosperity has its limits:

Possessions can provide security, but not inner peace.
Money can open doors, but it cannot give meaning.
Status symbols may impress, but rarely fulfill.

Wealth Beyond the Material

True wealth is also found where it has no price:

Family – a sense of belonging, reliability, and stability.
Relationships – friendships and communities that support us even when external security wavers.
Mindfulness toward nature and the animal world – the ability to perceive the living world, respect it, and find calm in the presence of nature. Forests, rivers, birds—wealth is revealed in moments that have no monetary value.

The New Form of Poverty

Perhaps the real tragedy of our time is this: wealth exists, yet it transforms into new forms of poverty:

Poverty of time, because we are constantly expected to be available.
Poverty of attention, because we are overwhelmed by stimuli.
Poverty of meaning, because we lose sight of depth beneath the surface.
Poverty of commitment, because relationships often remain shallow or uncommitted.
Poverty of mindfulness, because nature and the living world are perceived only as "background."

Thus, the question "Am I rich?" can no longer be answered solely by material terms. It's not only about what we possess, but how we engage with it.

Inner Wealth

An inwardly wealthy person is defined not by possessions but by attitude:

Gratitude instead of fear – the ability to appreciate what exists.
Sufficiency instead of greed – recognizing that what we have is already enough.
Depth instead of distraction – choosing what truly matters rather than following every trend.
Rootedness – staying grounded regardless of external circumstances.

Inner abundance means not being driven by the shadows of the past nor distracted by the temptations of the present.

A New Perspective

Perhaps we should ask a different question. Not, "Am I rich?" but:

"What constitutes my wealth?"
"Which patterns still shape my thinking—scarcity or abundance?"
"Do I live from fear of loss, or from trust that I am enough?"

True wealth, after all, is not measured by how much we have, but by how consciously we live what is already present—materially, inwardly, in our relationships, and in connection with the world.