The less autonomous a person is, the more likely they are to prove their worth through consumption; the clearer they are about where they stand, the more willing they are to use money to buy their future. Because, in essence, consumption is about purchasing emotional value in the present; whereas, in essence, investing is about purchasing the future rights of choice. When a person doesn’t know who they are or where they’re going, they can only keep confirming their value through external symbols: buying more expensive things, displaying a better life, and gaining more recognition from others. But when a person is clear about their position, they realize that the most important role of money is not consumption—it’s creating more possibilities for the future. Consumption answers “who I want to be right now”; investment answers “who I can become in the future.” So, the true view of wealth has never been about saving money or spending money—it’s this: are you using money to buy emotions, or are you using money to buy time, ability, and the rights of choice?