Since July 15, I’ve been reflecting on The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom. The five types—Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial—invite us to rethink what it means to live richly. Today, I’ll focus on the second: Social Wealth.
Once again, Bloom opens this chapter with a question that cuts straight to the heart:
“Who will be sitting in the front row at your funeral?” Picture their faces. These are the people who truly matter.
Now ask yourself: What are you doing to cherish those people while they’re still here? How do they know they matter to you?
Your answers form the foundation of your social wealth. It’s not about how many contacts you have, but about how deeply you’re connected to those who will show up in life’s most important moments—and its final ones.
Social wealth matters because humans are inherently social creatures. We thrive in connection and suffer in isolation. Loneliness and social isolation aren’t just unpleasant; they’re dangerous. Studies show they increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and even physical and mental illness. A lack of social connection can be more harmful than heavy smoking or drinking.
Our brains evolved for interaction. In fact, we are human because we are social—and we are social because we are human.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest longitudinal studies ever conducted, confirms this. After tracking 724 participants and over 1,300 of their descendants for more than 86 years, researchers arrived at a conclusion:
“The single most important factor for a happy life is relationships.”
Good relationships make us healthier, happier, and longer-lived. One former director put it bluntly:
“The key to healthy aging is relationships, relationships, relationships.”
In his TED talk—viewed over 50 million times—Dr. Robert Waldinger, the study’s current director, said:
“The best predictor of your physical health at age 80 isn’t your cholesterol levels at 50, but how satisfied you are with your relationships.”
Another insight that stopped me in my tracks was Bloom’s mention of “the magic years”—the first decade of a child’s life. During this time, you’re their most favorite person in the world. If you miss that window, no amount of later success will fill the hole. Bloom urges parents to prioritize time with their children during these years. A strong foundation, once built, can last a lifetime.
So how do we build and protect social wealth? Bloom identifies three pillars:
1. Depth
These are the deep, meaningful bonds with the people you turn to in a crisis—your closest friends and family. The ones who would sit in the front row at your funeral.
Deep relationships rest on three qualities:
Honesty
Support
Shared experience
Bloom suggests using a matrix to assess them:
Green zone: High frequency + supportive → protect and nurture
Red zone: High frequency + demeaning → avoid if possible
Opportunity zone: Low frequency + supportive → invest in
Danger zone: High frequency + mixed attitudes → monitor carefully
2. Breadth
The second pillar refers to your broader community—people who share your values or interests. These relationships provide spiritual and cultural support and a sense of belonging. Join a group, show up, and contribute.
Three key elements of breadth:
Shared values
Active listening and thoughtful questioning
Consistent follow-up
3. Earned Status
This is the respect and trust you gain from others—not due to wealth or position, but because of your character and actions. It cannot be bought. It must be earned.
Reflection
We tend to chase financial wealth because it’s measurable. But social wealth is what gives life its meaning—and gives us the strength to carry on when everything else falters.
You won’t regret spending time with your children during their magic years. You won’t regret calling an old friend just to say, “You matter.”
Because at the end of life, another measure of your wealth is who’s sitting in the front row—and why they’re there.
To be continued...