Living Rich vs Rich Living - is there a difference?

Is there a difference between living rich and rich living? While posting a pic of my homemade pumpkin spiced coffee this morning, I got curious. So I googled it.

Here’s what Google’s AI had to say:

While "living rich" and "rich living" might seem similar, the key difference lies in the emphasis: "living rich" implies having a high level of wealth and the ability to afford luxury items, while "rich living" focuses more on a lifestyle that prioritizes experiences, fulfillment, and quality of life, not necessarily just material possessions, even if those are present; essentially, "rich living" suggests a more mindful and intentional approach to using wealth.

This very much jives with what I was feeling in the moment. When I buy a fancy pumpkin spice latte at a coffee shop, it always feels like a splurge. The money, yes, but also the calories, the sugar, the luxuriously slow time I take with each sip.

I’m not financially wealthy (yet! - positive thinking kicking in there), but I’ve been over-working at my job, busy every weekend either working or socializing. While I will be working this weekend, too, I’m at home, and I find that when I choose to work weekends, slow luxurious mornings are still super important to designate weekend vs weekday for me.

I also need time to not people. Not get out of my jammies or leave my little cozy apartment. And even just sitting on my couch, with the sun streaming in on this gorgeous fall morning, my fuzzy kitty next to me, feels luxurious. Rich.

And in that, I agree with Google AI that rich living is a focus on lifestyle, experiences, fulfillment and quality of life.

Although, there is something to be said for at least a few material possessions. There was a time not long ago (ahem, less than a year ago), when I didn’t have a couch. In fact, the only furniture I owned was a bed, a desk, and two bar stools.

So, this life with actual furniture, the ability to sit on a couch and not the floor, with my feet on a coffee table, and a pumpkin spiced coffee, also contributes to feeling rich.

What’s the verdict? I’m going to go with mindset and attitude. Because there was a time when I had many material things in my life - a new car, a house in a subdivision, lots of stuff in that house - and life did not feel rich. Everything felt hard, like a struggle, and I was deeply unhappy.

And there was a time when I didn’t know where I was sleeping, or where my next meal was coming from. At those times, just having those felt rich. And when I didn’t have furniture, and just having an apartment felt rich.

So, while dollars in the bank, and stuff can contribute to feeling rich, I also believe that you can choose your thoughts, and you can choose to feel rich in the moment.

How is your life feeling rich right now? Can you get curious about your thoughts around living rich and rich living? If your thoughts are not what you want them to be, can you flip the script, or find something in your life that feels rich?