The paradox of contentment
Years ago, I heard a personal finance expert (Pete the Planner) say some variation of the following:
The goal shouldn't be to just have a lot of money. The goal should also be to not need a lot of money.
That line of thinking has stuck with me for years as I've gone through various phases of pursuing minimalism, simple living, essentialism, etc. But what it all really comes down to is finding contentment.
It's a paradox, really. Because not needing a lot of money ultimately results in having more money because we aren't spending every "next dollar" to acquire more.
Obviously, there is a point up to which people actually do need more. But once we reach that point of having our needs and even some of our basic wants fulfilled, contentment is where we find peace, margin, and true comfort.