Do you ask what is the proper limit to wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary, and, second, to have what is enough.
Seneca
How do we apply this ancient bit of wisdom from Seneca to our modern lives? I find this idea is closely related to asking yourself what is essential. By focusing on what I really need, I am able to cut down on possessions that I find unnecessary. For instance, if I did not wear a shirt for a whole year, chances are I won’t wear it anymore and I can donate it. If I have shoes in my closet that never get used, maybe it’s time to donate them, too. Some of the books on my shelf are simply collecting dust, maybe I should give them to a friend.
But this idea of owning less is not just about decluttering. Epicurus said that real wealth is poverty adjusted to the laws of Nature. When I make an effort to reduce my possession to the essentials, I find I am closer to living in accordance with Nature. I try to remind myself that my goal should never be to have more but to have enough. What we really need is essential, everything else is excess.
In his letter to his friend Lucilius, Seneca says luxury will only leave us craving more luxury: “You will only learn from such things to crave still greater.” It is tempting to own more possessions, as we feel owning more will make us happier. But, we end up simply wanting more. In other words, our happiness is now in the control of externals, and that is exactly what we want to avoid.
