Part 10/14:
The most destructive trap is lifestyle inflation—the tendency to upgrade possessions as income rises, which escalates obligations and reduces flexibility. Every luxury purchased to bring brief joy eventually becomes another obligation, eroding freedom and peace. Extra possessions don't bring fulfillment; instead, they generate anxiety and reduce the ability to walk away from nonsense.
Simplicity as a Path to Autonomy
Simplicity isn’t resignation; it's rational arithmetic. Warren Buffett and I lived modestly not out of frugality for its own sake but because simplicity preserves sanity and sharpens judgment. The less clutter in your life—physical, mental, or emotional—the more capacity you have to focus on what truly matters: relationships, knowledge, and sound decisions.