The Dark Side of Wealth
You're at a party. Someone asks you casually, "So, what do you do?" Most people just answer the question. But you're different, both in your circumstances and in your reaction. You experience a sense of panic, "Oh, no, not again! I hate that question!" You try to think of how to make a hobby sound like a profession. Words such as nothing, parasite, fraud, and lost soul leap to mind, along with concerns over how to make yourself sound like a responsible adult.

"Oh, I do a lot of things…," you reply finally with a weak smile. You almost add resentfully, "Well, I have money. I don't have to do anything." Instead, you deflect attention from yourself by asking quickly, "And what is it you do?" suddenly feeling foolish and very self-conscious, the mood of the moment ruined. You hear little of the reply as you ask yourself miserably, "Does it show how little I do that is of any real value?" An extreme reaction to an innocent circumstance? You may well think so, for unless you're an inheritor you may find it hard to relate to this story. But if you have inherited substantial wealth, then you know that it is harder for you than for most people to achieve a sense of purpose and competence.

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