What were the most beautiful moments of your life? Probably none linked to possessions. They were encounters. Love. Friendship. Real life never happens in a shopping cart.
And yet we live in a system that rewards the exact opposite: more stuff, more status, more pressure. Welcome to the global church that worships economic growth.
Having satisfies – but it doesn’t make you happy
Sure, money matters. But beyond basic security, “more” hardly creates additional joy. Studies show that once people reach a middle-income level, extra cash doesn’t make them happier — at worst, it just stresses them out.
Philosopher Erich Fromm already knew that in 1976 when he described the “Having-society” as deeply unwell:
“We are a society of chronically unhappy people: lonely, fearful, dependent — and constantly busy killing time we claim we want to save.”
Pretty much what we call burnout capitalism today.
Being means living — not performing
So what is Being? Not asceticism, but awareness. Mindfulness, creativity, relationships — real life.
Examples?
• Taking time for yourself and dropping the stress.
• Nurturing relationships that support — not impress.
• Doing work that carries meaning — not just salary. Ideally: high meaning-salary 😉
• Being active instead of consuming: making music, writing, helping.
• Acting locally and witnessing real change.
That’s Being. And yes — it sparks happiness. No discount code required.
Egoism? Sure — but socially! How does that work?
The term is psychosocial egoism: I do good for others / for the community — and in doing so, I do good for myself. A fair deal — way better than self-optimization with a fat CO₂ footprint.
Egoism is totally fine when it strengthens relationships instead of destroying them. Because those who share meaning win twice: satisfaction and connection.
Would you trade places with Bill Gates?
Billionaires have money and power — but rarely inner peace. Many of them launch foundations, trying to buy meaning. But meaning doesn’t come from donations — it comes from participation. That’s the difference between Having and Being: Having fills accounts, Being fulfills humans.
Conclusion: Time to reset the slider
It’s not about abolishing possessions. Material and social security matter, obviously. But BEconomics say: Move the slider from Having toward Being. From quantity to quality. From consumption to culture. From permanent distraction to active life.
- Possession increases satisfaction only up to a point — then it crashes.
- Meaningful action and social bonds create lasting happiness.
- BEconomics stand for balance: enough to be free — enough Being to become fulfilled.
© The Economics Coach 2026 (Cover photo: Rido81/Envato)
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