I have wealthy clients who, while not depressed, are sad. I call that Wealthy-But-Sad Syndrome.
Especially in today's zeitgeist, rich people don't get much sympathy but perhaps some deserve a bit or at least some attention other than getting bashed by the media.
Sure, some rich people inherited their wealth. Others acquired it substantially through deceit.
But many if not most became wealthy largely because they worked longer and smarter than most people and added sufficient value that employers were willing to spend lots of money to hire them and/.or many customers willing to buy their products or services. Too, instead spending all they earned and more, they deferred gratification and invested, and did so prudently.
And after acquiring wealth, rich people are forced to confront the reality that you can't buy your way to contentment.
And every time they turn on the TV, read something in the mass media, or watch a movie, they usually see the rich guy, yes guy, being unfair.
Even if you're worth millions, it can be understandably be dispiriting.
Perhaps one or more of these might help:
Remember that you earned it. You didn't get all that money for nothing. As mentioned above, people felt you were adding sufficient value or that you were contributing to a product that benefits many people. That's an easy argument if you were involved with the Toyota Prius, Whirlpool refigerators, or generic aspirin.
But even if you were selling nuts and bolts, as long as it was at a fair price, you did not only well, but good. Each nut helped keep a product or machine together, which enabled people to get done what they want. Most honorable.
And if your behavior in your work hasn't been so honorable, perhaps you'd be a happier person if you made ethics high prioirity, even if it meant you made less money?
Feel overpaid? Give it away wisely. Many people fritter away their charity dollars. For example, if you fund a scholarship, you well may simply replacing the government's or college's money with your own: The college or government, in effect, says, "Good. Joe Blow is paying for the scholarship, so we don't have to."
It's wiser to make your criterion for giving: What will have a big ripple effect that wouldn't otherwise be funded if not for my money and/or time? For example, funding research on the biological basis ofintelligence is politically verboten these days, so many would-be good research projects on intelligence go unfunded. Your funding such research would help fill an unmet need with great potential ripple effects. Similarly, intellectually gifted kids in blue-collar public schools are largely ignored in today's era of focusing on closing the "achievement gap." Funding an online mentor/gifted student matching website could have a large ripple effect and it's something that wouldn't occur if not for your money.
Use your work power well. Many people of wealth have influential positions in theirworkplace. Be sure you're not just covering your butt, being too conservative in your ideas, or focusing just on the bottom line. What big initiative could you spearhead?
For example, if, in your heart of hearts, you think it would be a good idea for your company to allow far more telecommuting, should you fight against the resistance until you get it implemented? If you believe your company's products actually are inferior, successful mainly because of brilliantmarketing, should you call the spade a spade and insist that the company reallocate effort from marketing to product development?
Develop perspective. Many people get rich because of their laser-beam focus on their and their company's financial success. At some point, it may be wise to temper that with a recognition, for example, that whether more people buy your company's toilet paper versus the competitor's may not be worth killing yourself or demanding too much of your employees. Is it time for a fuller-dimensioned consideration of how hard to push and to what to direct your considerable abilities?
Wealthy-But-Sad Syndrome is common but fixable.
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