Redefining Wealth: Beyond Money to True Abundance

Why Redefine Wealth?

When most people hear wealth, they picture dollar signs, investments, and luxury.

However, wealth was never meant to be limited to financial gain.

The original meaning comes from the Old English word “Weal.” It was a term to describe well-being and prosperity.

Somewhere along the way, we equated wealth with material accumulation, overlooking the aspects of life that truly bring fulfillment.

Redefining wealth is about reclaiming that bigger picture.

It’s about recognizing that money is necessary, but life offers far more than that.

True abundance is found in health, relationships, purpose, and peace.

This article will explore what it means to expand our definition of wealth, why this shift matters, and how you can start building a life that’s rich in every dimension.

The Old vs. New Definition of Wealth

For generations, wealth has been defined almost entirely in financial terms.

It’s archaic! And could be why our society looks the way it does.

For much of my life, success was measured by net worth, the size of one’s house, and whether it had a pool in the backyard.

In this traditional view, wealth has always meant more…more money, more assets, more accumulation.

It’s a perspective that values financial security above anything else.

Yes, stability is important! It is something we all deserve. However, finding stability often overlooks the things that actually make life meaningful.

The redefined view of wealth tells a different story.

In Soulfully Rich Living, wealth is not just what’s in your bank account! It’s about what fills your life.

It’s the strength of your health, the depth of your relationships, the clarity of your purpose, and the peace you carry in your heart.

In this perspective, money remains a valuable tool. Not the center of the equation.

Instead, wealth is measured by different means, such as balance, contribution, and fulfillment.

This is wealth beyond money, a holistic approach that honors the many non-financial forms of abundance we too often overlook.

Earnings Example:

Imagine two people with similar jobs, both earning around $75,000 a year and working 40-hour weeks.

• • Person A spends most of their time focused on career goals. They’re often stressed, eat on the go, and rarely take time off out of fear of missing out on a promotion. Their social life and self-care take a back seat to productivity and prestige.

• • Person B also works hard and earns the same salary, but invests their time differently. They take care of their body, nurture close friendships, spend time outdoors, and volunteer in their community to make an impact.

On paper, their finances look nearly identical. But in reality, only one is truly wealthy.

Person B has cultivated non-financial wealth by investing in their well-being, connection, and purpose alongside their paycheck.

This shift in perspective invites us to stop asking only, “How much do I earn?” and begin asking, “How fully am I living?”

The Pillars of True Wealth

If wealth isn’t just about numbers, then what is it really built on?

Over time, I’ve come to see true wealth as resting on several pillars that may go unnoticed in life.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we may have additional pillars in our lives.

View each pillar as part of a foundation that makes life feel full, grounded, and, well, soulfully rich.

Health as Wealth

Poor health can make even the biggest bank account feel empty.

You can have the dream job, the perfect house, or the car you’ve always wanted, but if your body is run-down and your energy is gone, it all loses its shine.

The World Health Organization has found that nearly three-quarters of our overall life satisfaction can be attributed to our health status.

Think about that!

Taking care of our bodies can change the way we experience everything else.

Even Steve Jobs said towards the end of his life, health was the one thing money couldn’t buy back.

That hits home.

2. Relationships & Connection

If there’s one truth that keeps emerging in the research, it’s this: relationships matter more than riches.

Harvard’s 80-year study on happiness found that strong relationships were the most significant predictor of long-term well-being.

So not your income or your fancy job title?

Wealth in this sense is about gathering around a table with people who love you, having someone you can call when life feels overwhelming, or being known and valued in your community.

It’s non-financial wealth in practice, and it fills you in ways no paycheck ever could.

3. Purpose & Contribution

Purpose answers the question, Why am I here?

I think that’s something we all think about.

And when you have that answer, it fuels everything else.

I’ve met people in high-paying jobs who felt completely empty, and I’ve met teachers, case managers, and artists who seemed “wealthier” in meaning even if their paychecks were smaller.

I briefly worked at a nonprofit organization in a marketing and fundraising role.

One of my colleagues worked directly in the community, connecting residents with the resources they needed.

To my surprise, I discovered one day that she had retired three years prior and was now working part-time in a volunteer capacity.

She didn’t like just sitting at home, and she still wanted to make a contribution. She was living in her purpose.

When your career or daily work aligns with your values, you will feel a greater sense of fulfillment.

True wealth is knowing that what you give to the world actually matters.

4. Emotional & Inner Peace

Wealth also shows up in your mental health, resilience, and peace of mind.

I’ve lived through seasons where I had financial stability but no inner peace. It didn’t feel great.

Studies have shown that simple practices, such as gratitude journaling, can reduce stress by 23% and increase overall life satisfaction.

Peace doesn’t always come naturally, but it’s something we can cultivate.

And when you have it, life feels abundant, no matter what’s in your account.

5. Financial Wealth as Supportive (Not Central)

Now, let’s be clear, money does matter.

It provides stability, safety, and options.

However, the shift occurs when you stop making money the centerpiece of wealth and instead view it as a supportive tool.

Being soulfully rich isn’t anti-money.

It’s pro-balance.

Instead of only asking, “How much do I have?” ask, “Does my money support my whole-life wealth… my health, my relationships, my peace, my purpose?”

That’s where actual prosperity lives.

Why This Shift Matters (Evidence + Trends)

Redefining wealth isn’t just a nice idea; it reflects the way our world is changing.

When you look at the evidence, it’s clear people are already craving a broader, more human definition of success.

Generational Values

Take Gen Z, for example.

Nearly 64% say they would trade higher pay for more personal time and well-being.

This shift in priorities is a reminder that the next generation doesn’t equate “success” with the corner office or a bigger paycheck.

They’re asking more profound questions about balance, meaning, and what makes life worth living.

Global Economics

Even at the level of nations, the old measures of success are being challenged.

The Inclusive Wealth Index, developed by the UN, now evaluates countries not just on GDP but also on their human, social, and natural capital.

In other words, the health of people, relationships, and the environment is being recognized as a form of wealth in its own right.

There is also the country of Bhutan which uses a unique measure of economic success. 

The Gross Happiness Index (GHI) is a framework that guides development in the country. It prioritizes happiness, sustainability, and cultural preservation over purely economic growth.

The GHI consists of nine domains that help the government measure economic growth and progress including health, education, psychological well-being, time use and cultural diversity. 

Mental Health Trends

At the same time, mental health data tells a sobering story.

Burnout, anxiety, and stress-related illnesses are real. Don’t let anyone invalidate it.

If money alone solved life satisfaction, we wouldn’t be seeing record numbers of people struggling with exhaustion and depression.

This is why redefining wealth through the lens of well-being is not optional; it’s necessary.

Joblessness and Education Inequality

There’s also a global reality we can’t ignore, and it is close to my heart.

Millions of people lack access to stable jobs due to barriers in education and training.

In many countries, children often do not have the opportunity to complete their education, limiting their chances for meaningful employment.

That lack of access creates cycles of poverty and joblessness that money at the top doesn’t fix.

Even here in the U.S., the job landscape is shifting.

Recent data indicate that unemployment rates are increasing, and wage gaps and educational inequities are widening.

People who check all the boxes are struggling to find work.

It truly is a crisis.

My Own Work in Workforce Development

I’ve seen this up close in my own work.

When I partnered with schools and municipalities to create career pathways, it became clear how much untapped potential there was in young people and the importance of bridge-building

Some of the most talented students I’ve met weren’t given the same resources or networks as their peers.

And that lack of opportunity doesn’t just hurt them and their families, it holds back entire communities. It holds back progress.

That’s why redefining wealth also means thinking in terms of holistic abundance and economic justice.

True prosperity isn’t measured only by what individuals accumulate but by whether society provides people with the tools to thrive. People need education, access, purpose, and dignity.