A passage has been circulating online, and it sounds very eye-opening:

The genes of the poor tend to be caring and helpful. When the rich encounter someone who can't keep up, they turn and walk away, avoiding unnecessary engagement, afraid of wasting energy. The poor are cautious yet generous. The rich, on the other hand, are generous in a stingy way.

At first glance, it seems realistic; upon reflection, it’s the truth.

The key here is not the gap between rich and poor itself, but the level of wisdom in managing one's own energy.

Poor thinking emphasizes feelings but is prone to leaks. Having experienced scarcity, they are more empathetic to others’ difficulties. Behind that cautious generosity lies kindness and thoughtfulness, but the problem is—it's especially easy to self-consume. Fear of upsetting others, fear of breaking relationships, they keep giving without end, even if they feel wronged inside. Energy gradually flows into a bottomless pit, never to return.

Rich thinking emphasizes results, so they can conserve. Their generous stinginess is not greed but clarity. Time, energy, emotions—these are top-tier resources that must be invested where they can generate returns. When encountering draining people or situations, they quickly identify and decisively avoid. This is not indifference; it’s precise control over their energy accounts.

These two mindsets lead to two different paths: one involves constant internal friction in the whirlpool of human relationships, leaving one exhausted and wronged; the other continues to appreciate value, steadily increasing, confident and composed.

We may not be able to acquire the wealth of the rich overnight, but that philosophy of "stinginess" toward energy? We can start learning it right now.

True maturity is demonstrated by one thing: learning to establish boundaries for your energy. Use that cautiousness to protect your inner feelings. Use that generosity to invest in truly worthwhile people and things. Only then can you gradually escape the trap of depletion.