The Hard Part of Abundance

May 22, 2026

Today I live almost in a world of abundance. I can choose what to eat, how to spend my time and what to do with my day. I have full freedom. It sounds like a good problem to have, and it is, but it comes with a catch that I think most people underestimate.

When everything is available, the hard part is not getting things. The hard part is choosing.

It takes one bad decision a day to enter a negative compounding loop. One more hour of scrolling, one more skipped workout, one more night of bad sleep. None of them look serious on their own. But everything compounds, in both directions.

We often underestimate how platforms like Instagram and mobile phones have changed the way we think and behave. The people building technology shape our thinking in the first place, and no politician or wealthy businessman has that kind of power. I work in technology, so I say this with full awareness.

I believe the world is only going to become more stimulated, uncertain and complex. For a lot of people it could feel like a hell, but with the perception of abundance.

So what do we do about it?

I don’t think the answer is to run away from technology. I think the answer is self-control. Staying distraction-free and being persistent are mental muscles, and like any muscle they need practice.

For me it comes down to a few simple things. Wake up early. Eat healthy. Exercise. Spend some time every day just thinking deeply. And be extremely clear on what matters to me, so that I do what works for me and not what looks cool.

I have lost this battle before, and I am sure I will lose it again on some days. But I have also won it, and I know how different those weeks feel.

A self-disciplined person who has control over themselves will thrive in this modern economy. Not because discipline is impressive, but because it is becoming rare.

Your battle is with yourself. Win that, and most other things fall in place.