People mistake having needs for being needs. Now, people think they can become mature by having a Ferarri LOL - to **be** rich, you need to **have** this car - the dilemma with money is that it can be both leverage for having and becoming, but it's way easier to use it for having - being requires time and autonomy, which is hard in [[Capitalism]] unless we pursue [[The pathless path]] - [[Consumerism]] makes you believe you can fulfill your being needs with having. If you don't realize this confusion, the more you will fall into it. - This is how salesman get you to buy things. In reality, a lot of these "solutions" you're looking for are already achievable with your current self and means. If anything, you should be paying to cultivate more of what you are already? - ![[After Socrates Episode 11 - Proper Proportions & the Right Mode Dr. John Vervaeke#^9afgkm]] This also falls into the way we see things like how [[Love is grown, not found]] [[People associate their identity with having needs over being needs]] This is solved by remembering [[Sati]]. Instead of pursuing horizontals like fame and wealth, be like the stoics and pursue vertical ontology - self with being, to escalate in [[Types of Knowing]]. [[Stoicism helps us escape modal confusion]] An example of the importance of modal confusion is the dichotomy between being a [[Capitalist Creator]] versus an [[Artist]]: - You can make little money compared to peers which may make you feel inferior, but if you are making enough to survive and you genuinely enjoy what you do, then your fulfillment is also a part of your wealth contribution. - This is what is recommended during [[The pathless path]]