Health is Your First Wealth

Even though it does not appear in your net worth statement, your body, your relationships and communities are your biggest assets. The health of these areas of your life enhances your true wealth. That is why one of the four dimensions of the Compass Star PATH is health. Health is your first wealth.  Health allows you to enjoy all the other aspects of wealth: your time, your abundance, and your passions. Good health energizes all those other areas.

Your overall health could include your physical health, your mental wellbeing, your family roots and community ties, and even the wider world around you. I cover this more in my book, but the scale of experiencing health as a spectrum is from inertia to wellness.

Inertia refers to stagnancy, a lack of movement in our bodies and our lives. When we embrace good habits, we start moving in our lives both literally and figuratively. You can start moving your body to gain health and start being active within your community to build relationships and connections. These deep connections, although not overtly flashy like nice homes and cars, will help you thrive.  Much like a strong root system of a tree, you will be able to be resilient against life’s stormy winds.

We do not always appreciate the blessings of good health until there is illness in our lives or with those around us. Having an abundance of money cannot replace health. We can burn ourselves out by sacrificing self-care habits like sleep, exercise, relaxation and eating well.

It is ironic that when life gets stressful and demanding, that is when we can drop our self-care habits and our relationships can suffer. That is when we need them the most. Just as we have to ‘invest in ourselves first’ with financial planning, we need to do that with our bodies, minds and communities. These good habits will help keep you grounded, and optimise your health.

How do you invest in your health?

Disclaimer: This article if for educational purposes only and is not personal financial advice.