White Lotus + A Question I'm Turning Over Like a Koan...

Perhaps it's because I just finished watching the 3rd season of White Lotus.

Or that we're living in the midst of an erratic trade war, extreme uncertainty for business, and blatant stock market manipulation that a few un/elected billionaires, with no moral compass or empathy, have inflicted on our national + global economy in a matter of days...

But I'm turning this question around in my mind like a koan:

What conditions are required for the consciousness of someone with extreme* wealth to shift? To release their tight grip, their attachment and obsession with MORE?

Let's start with some math.

In 2023, the median US household income was $80,610 a year.

*Extreme wealth, by my definition, is anything over $100million. Assuming a 4% return, $100m would generate $4million a year. That's $333,333 to spend each month, $11,111 every day, without ever touching the $100million.

Assuming the same 4% return, $1 billion dollars would generate $40million a year, $3,333,333 to spend every 30 days, or $111,111 every DAY without ever touching that billion dollars.

This level of hoarding has nothing to do with MONEY itself, and everything to do with inner poverty. I have compassion for all forms of poverty.

Each one of us can help cultivate the conditions to inspire a cultural shift towards the circulation of extreme wealth, rather than the hoarding of it.

It might make you a little uncomfortable, but I believe there's an invitation—for me, for you—to look at where youmay be perpetuating the current conditions, and then explore the empathy that may arise.

Who do you assume is smart, or a 'genius,' simply because they are wealthy? Imagine what it would feel like if this myth was projected on you, and deep down you knew you were no smarter than anyone else. Maybe you'd go to great lengths, like the Wizard of Oz, to pretend.

Who have you wanted to be friends with, or associated with, because they are wealthy? (it's a cultural thing, so be gentle with yourself) Imagine what it would feel like to not trust who really cared about you, or valued you, always suspecting that they might try to use you for your wealth. Maybe you'd start using people too, as a way to defend against getting hurt.

Your compassion and empathy, especially when it feels hard to muster, is a part of turning this tide. Even if it's undoubtedly a teeny, tiny part. Clearly, what we really need is structural change!

The painful truth is that more money won't insulate any of us from the very real suffering of being a human. In fact, it often does the opposite.

Money only amplifies whatever you have (or haven't) cultivated within.

So, what do the extremely wealthy, YOU, and every other human on the earth need to cultivate?

An inner sense of safety, the kind not bought with money.

A sense of belonging, of being accepted and respected as yourself, regardless of the money you have.

An inner strength to navigate humiliation, abandonment, and failure without using money as a manipulative tool.

A deep sense of genuine power, rather than using money's power as a hollow proxy.

Trust: both a deep inner trust, and a trust that is only woven within authentic relationships, relationships not soured or bought with money.

A visceral and factual knowing of what is enough, what is PLENTY, for the life you wish to lead rather than an unquestioned assumption that 'more is always better'.

And lastly for now, the gentleness of deeply cultivated self-love, a love forever out of reach of money.

The above, plus plenty of money for all that you hold dear-but no more, is the epitome of True Wealth.

I like to think Timothy Ratliff was about to embark on an exploration of True Wealth as they headed home (wasn't it viscerally excruciating to watch him sweat, panic, and finally reach for the most desperate escape imaginable!! from the shame and likelihood of losing his fortune??).

I am an optimistic realist. I don't pretend to think that there will be any great shift in consciousness anytime soon, yet I do believe it will be brought about by compassion—compassion that is felt both ways.

Anything I can add to the conversation, to challenging assumptions, and to dissolving illusions, I will offer as a part of the evolution that must happen.

P.S. As I was rolling this question around in my mind I stumbled upon this interview with Abigail Disney titled, "Every billionaire who can't survive on $999 million is kind of sociopath" . The primary characteristic of a sociopath being a lack of empathy.