Living Fully: How Health, Time, and a New Wealth Paradigm Shape a Fulfilling Life
At 32, I’ve reflected on what it means to live a fulfilling life. What defines true success and contentment? These thoughts often arise when I’m balancing my professional ambitions, personal relationships, and my efforts to maintain good health. It seems that we’re all juggling three interconnected pillars: health, time, and wealth. Yet, our society often misaligns these priorities, placing undue emphasis on wealth while neglecting the preciousness of time and the foundation of health.
Through years of personal growth and challenges, I’ve learned that living fully requires us to rethink how we view these pillars. Health is the engine that drives our ability to experience life. Time is our most finite resource, one that demands careful and intentional use. And wealth, when redefined, becomes less about money and more about the richness of our experiences and relationships. In this article, I’ll explore these three pillars and how they shape a life well-lived.
1. Health: The Foundation of Fulfillment
Health is the foundation upon which everything else in life rests. Yet globally, we are grappling with a silent epidemic of chronic conditions: rising rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the spiraling impact of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. These aren’t just isolated problems; they reflect the strain of modern life, with its relentless pace, poor dietary habits, and increasing disconnection from nature and community. Despite the critical importance of health, it is often the first thing we sacrifice in pursuit of other goals.
For me, health took on a new dimension of importance as I watched my grandfather struggle with diabetes. His condition not only limited his mobility and energy but also his ability to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. It wasn’t just his life that was affected; it reshaped the lives of those around him, creating a web of care and concern that extended through our family. This experience left an indelible mark on me: health is never just about the individual—it has ripple effects that touch everyone in our lives.
This year, I set myself the goal of training for a half marathon. At first, it seemed like a straightforward physical challenge, but it quickly became about something much deeper. Running taught me to respect my body’s limits while striving for growth. It showed me the importance of recovery, mindfulness, and consistency. It became a metaphor for life itself—balancing effort and rest, endurance and patience. Training for the half marathon wasn’t just about crossing the finish line; it was about cultivating habits that sustain well-being for the long haul.
But health isn’t just about the physical body—it encompasses mental and emotional health as well. In today’s hyperconnected yet isolating world, burnout, stress, and anxiety have become commonplace. We often dismiss these as personal weaknesses or inevitable byproducts of success, but they are warning signs that our way of life is out of sync with what we truly need. Prioritizing mental health through mindfulness, meaningful relationships, and the courage to rest is not indulgent—it’s essential. It’s a way to reclaim our vitality and reconnect with the joy of simply being alive.
Investing in health today pays dividends for the future. A healthy body and mind allow us to engage with life fully, to pursue our passions, and to connect deeply with the people we care about. Beyond the individual, our choices inspire those around us, creating a culture of well-being that ripples outward.
Yet, true health extends even further—it’s not only about individual well-being but also about the health of the systems that sustain us. Soil health, the integrity of our ecosystems, and the vitality of our planet are as critical as personal fitness. Without fertile soil, clean water, and breathable air, even the healthiest individuals cannot thrive. Our collective future depends on how we care for the interconnected web of life on Earth. By restoring and nurturing planetary health, we ensure that future generations inherit a world where they too can flourish.
Health is not a solitary pursuit; it is an integrated and universal responsibility. It’s about personal choices, but also about societal priorities and our relationship with the natural world. To truly prioritize health means thinking beyond ourselves—to the well-being of our communities, the ecosystems we depend on, and the planet we call home. In this expansive view, health becomes not just a foundation for life but a guiding principle for how we live and steward our shared world.
2. Time: The Most Valuable Currency
If there’s one lesson life has taught me, it’s this: time is finite, and how we spend it defines our lives. Yet, many of us treat time as though it’s limitless, postponing joy, growth, and connection for “someday.”
As an entrepreneur, I’ve felt this tension acutely. Building something you love often requires long hours, relentless focus, and sacrifices. While the satisfaction of creating something meaningful is immense, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that all of life can be deferred until the work is “done.” The reality is that the work is never truly done. This realization hit me hard: no professional achievement, no matter how significant, can replace the time spent with loved ones or the joy of shared experiences.
Time is not just about how much we have—it’s about how intentionally we use it. The moments we spend with family, friends, or even in solitude to reflect and grow are what ultimately make life meaningful. Too often, we push these moments aside, thinking we’ll have time for them later. But waiting until retirement to explore the world, take up a new passion, or spend quality time with the people who matter most often means missing out on those experiences entirely or enjoying them far less due to declining energy and enthusiasm.
The richness of time lies in the memories we create. Unlike material possessions, which can lose value or fade from relevance, memories only grow in significance. For instance, a simple trip with friends years ago still brings me immense joy when I think back on it. It’s not the place we visited or the money spent that makes it special; it’s the connection, the laughter, and the stories we now share.
This underscores the truth that time is the ultimate currency. The way we spend it determines the depth of our lives. To live fully, we must prioritize time for experiences that matter and resist the urge to postpone what makes us feel most alive. Intentional use of time—whether for connection, rest, or meaningful work—is what turns a finite resource into a life that feels abundant.
3. Redefining Wealth: Beyond Money
Redefining wealth also means letting go of the fear of scarcity. Instead of hoarding money for an uncertain future, we can use it to create joy and impact today. This doesn’t mean reckless spending but intentional use of resources to enrich our lives and those of others. Giving while living—whether through financial support, acts of kindness, or sharing time—is a powerful way to create lasting value.
When we redefine wealth in this way, it shifts our focus from accumulating to contributing. We start to see that wealth is less about individual gain and more about the collective well-being of those around us. This perspective transforms how we engage with the world. Wealth becomes a flow—of energy, love, and support—rather than a stagnant pool of possessions or numbers in a bank account. It challenges the idea that success lies in what we own and replaces it with a vision of success grounded in what we share and create together.
The idea of “heliogenesis” aligns beautifully with this broader understanding of wealth. Just as the sun provides abundant energy to sustain life on Earth, the wealth we generate through relationships, experiences, and contributions radiates outward, fueling the growth and joy of others. This interconnectedness mirrors the natural world, where ecosystems thrive through cycles of giving and receiving, with no single element hoarding resources for itself. In this way, rethinking wealth is not just about personal fulfillment—it’s about aligning ourselves with the principles that sustain life itself.
Living this way requires courage. It means resisting societal pressures to measure success by external markers like income or possessions. It asks us to step into vulnerability, trusting that what we give will create ripples far beyond what we can see. It calls for a mindset of abundance, where we recognize that the true riches of life lie not in scarcity but in connection. It’s about creating a legacy not of what we leave behind, but of the lives we touch and the changes we inspire while we’re still here.
By redefining wealth, we unlock its true potential—not as a means to accumulate, but as a force to build, nurture, and grow. True wealth leaves a trail of meaning, not just for ourselves but for everyone we meet. It’s a richness that expands, endlessly regenerating, much like the energy of the sun. And when we live this way, we stop seeing wealth as finite and start seeing it as infinite, deeply woven into the fabric of life itself.
Designing a Life Worth Living
Health, time, and a redefined concept of wealth are the three pillars that shape a fulfilling life. Each is essential, and together they form the foundation for living with purpose and intention. Health is the engine that powers our capacity to engage with life fully. Time is the finite currency that demands careful stewardship. And wealth, when reframed beyond material accumulation, becomes the energy we share—through experiences, relationships, and contributions—that amplifies meaning and joy.
Reflecting deeply on these pillars has reshaped my perspective on what it means to live well. Health is no longer just a goal for me; it’s the foundation for every aspiration I pursue. Without it, dreams are deferred, and the energy to embrace life’s opportunities diminishes. I’ve come to see time as the most valuable resource of all—not because of its scarcity, but because of its capacity to create richness when spent with intention. And wealth, as I now understand it, isn’t about hoarding or status; it’s about the flow of giving and receiving, the creation of memories, and the connections forming a meaningful life.
Our collective future depends on aligning these pillars within ourselves and the larger systems we’re part of. Health isn’t just about individual vitality—it’s about the well-being of our communities and the ecosystems we rely on. Time isn’t simply a personal resource; it’s a shared thread that weaves relationships, opportunities, and history together. And wealth, when freed from the confines of materialism, becomes the force that sustains not only our lives but the lives and futures of others.
So, I leave you with this question: How are you weaving health, time, and wealth into the fabric of your life? What can you do today to ensure these pillars are aligned with your values and aspirations? The answers lie not in someday, but in the choices we make now—in the love we share, the time we spend, and the lives we touch. In those choices, we find freedom, fulfilment, and a life worth living.
PS: I always find myself asking these questions: