Why do I feel guilty about wanting financial security and stability?

Because you've been handed a false choice: either you're spiritual and ascetic, or you're greedy and shallow. That's not real. I've observed that the people most at peace with money are those who understand it clearly—as a tool for dignity and freedom, not as proof of worth. Financial security isn't selfish; it's actually necessary for moral reasoning. When you're desperate, you can't afford your principles. A person working three jobs with no safety net can't make choices about right livelihood—they're just surviving. Dignity requires a foundation. The guilt often comes from absorbing messages that wanting stability is somehow less noble than constant struggle. It isn't. What matters is how you relate to money: Are you chasing it endlessly, always wanting more? Or are you establishing enough—a real number—so you can sleep, think clearly, and make choices? The second is wisdom. Define what 'enough' means for you. Not luxurious. Enough. Then pursue that without apology, and redirect your energy to something meaningful. That's both practical and ethical.