Is going to thriving from merely surviving, doing what you should do over only what you need do?

Yes

Yes, and it isn't fair.

Sort of yes and no.
Technically, with the income Ari and I live on relative to average wages and national standard of living, we are barely at subsistence level.
We use solar power, make, mend and recycle things, grow most of our fruit and vegies, shop locally, keep our carbon footprint very low, plant trees and forests and spend very little.
Yet it feels to us that it is very far from mere survival. We are thriving and happy. Our life is cheap, comfortable, healthy, and surrounded by the beauty of nature and home-made culture.
It has taken quite a long time to slowly evolve this lifestyle, one bit at a time, gradually learning, but for us it has been well worth the journey. This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at November 20, 2016 5:41 AM MST

probably, it depends on what youre doing