Sharing his observations in a recent Instagram video, Dr. Garg recounted a conversation with a 34-year-old Gurgaon resident who earns ₹40 lakh annually, lives in a comfortable 2BHK apartment, and drives a BMW. Despite these achievements, the man confessed that he felt poor and struggled to sleep at night because of constant financial anxiety.
"Doctor, I think I'm very poor," the man told him.
Rather than dismissing the statement, Dr. Garg saw it as a reflection of a broader issue affecting many Indian professionals today.
The Changing Definition of Wealth
On paper, the Gurgaon professional appears financially successful. According to income statistics, an annual salary of ₹40 lakh places him among the top earners in the country. Yet, his perception of wealth tells a different story.
Dr. Garg explained that the problem lies in a shift in reference points. Earlier in life, the man may have compared himself to people in his hometown or neighborhood with modest jobs and incomes. Today, however, he measures his success against startup founders, influencers, and entrepreneurs who have amassed fortunes worth tens or even hundreds of crores.
As a result, his sense of financial security continues to erode despite rising earnings.
"Your income has increased, but your expectations have increased tenfold," Dr. Garg said. "The gap between what you have and what you think you should have keeps widening every year."
This phenomenon, often described as lifestyle creep, occurs when higher earnings lead to higher spending, greater ambitions, and ever-expanding definitions of success. Consequently, satisfaction becomes increasingly difficult to achieve.
Three Questions That Revealed the Real Problem
During their conversation, Dr. Garg asked the man three simple yet profound questions.
The first question was: "How many times in the last year have you told yourself, 'I am enough'?"
The answer was immediate: never.
The second question was: "Who are you earning all this money for?"
After some reflection, the man admitted that he didn't really know. He was simply trying to keep pace with others who appeared to be moving ahead in life.
The final question was: "Is there even one thing in your life that you don't do for money?"
Following a brief silence, the man answered no.
For Dr. Garg, these responses highlighted a deeper issue. The man was not experiencing financial poverty. Instead, he was facing a lack of purpose, connection, and inner contentment.
When Success Becomes a Trap
According to Dr. Garg, many ambitious professionals unknowingly allow money to become the primary measure of their worth. Over time, career achievements, possessions, and income figures begin to define personal identity.
"When money becomes the measure of every activity, you stop being a human being and become a machine," he said.
He emphasized that while financial challenges can often be solved through better planning, earning more, or investing wisely, questions of identity and purpose are far more difficult to address.
A Reminder for High Earners
Dr. Garg believes that people at every income level should periodically examine their relationship with money and success. Whether someone earns ₹40 lakh or ₹4 crore annually, he recommends asking the same three questions every six months:
* Have I told myself that I am enough?
* Who am I earning this money for?
* Is there something meaningful in my life that isn't driven by money?
According to him, many people spend years trying to solve what they believe are financial problems when the real challenge lies elsewhere.
"Solving money problems is relatively easy," Dr. Garg concluded. "Solving identity problems is much harder. And 90% of people end up confusing the two."
His message serves as a reminder that true wealth is not determined solely by income or possessions, but also by purpose, fulfillment, and the ability to appreciate what one already has.
