“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” — Anne Frank
Question of the Day: Does Money Buy Happiness?
My answer: Money does not buy happiness. Happiness comes from the things that truly bring you joy in your life. Having lots of money might seem like it will make you happy, but really it’s not the actual money that makes you happy. Now maybe you like to sail out in the ocean, or visit far-away lands (your happiness). Then the money becomes a conduit to your happiness, as it funds these expeditions. But in and of itself, money really isn’t what makes people happy.
Probably your greatest joy comes from the relationships you have with others. This is not something that money can buy (you can buy friends, but they are not “true” friends). I recently heard a story about the people of Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. There, where people have very little, and live with disease and sickness every day, people are genuinely happy. So, think about this. People who have virtually nothing (except each other) can have more “real” happiness than those with tons of money.
I am not saying money is not important. In fact, I believe highly in saving for the future. Just remember that it’s not the money that makes you happy. So, use your money wisely, in ways that fit with you goals, and be true to yourself.
Make it a great life!
I too would agree money does not buy happiness. I have spent months in third world countries like Guatemala, Thailand, Nicaragua and Honduras as well as countries like Mexico which have very rich and very poor. I have seen just as much contentment, laughter and happiness in these countries as in my own wealthy Australia. In fact, I would go so far as to say that in these countries they are more liekly to know what makes them happy (their friends and family) than people in Western countries who delude themselves that they’ll be happier when they can buy a BMW.
That said, I think it’s hard to argue that a certain level of wealth (being able to cover the essentials) makes it a lot easier to be happy. Who wants to worry about putting food on the table and keeping the electricity on? Very stressful. I grew up poor so I know.
Nice blog.
Kelly
That’s awesome Kelly that you’ve had the opportunity to experience third world countries and really see this first hand. Thanks for sharing your experience here!
I have to toally agree with Kelly that covering the essentials makes for a much happier person. Keep up the great blog. Enter my contest, the giveaway is June 10!
What a great blog you have here. I came across it via a comment you left on Christine Kane’s blog. I could not relate more to this post if you had written it purposely for me. At 36 I am going through a shift in my life called.…accepting who I am. I am learning to say I don’t care about keeping up with the Jones… I have what is important to me…A close family, a great marriage, health, a good job etc. What I struggle with is that I KNOW this (as in logically in my head) but really getting it internalized is where I struggle. I am just reading Eckhart Tolle’s newest book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. In it he writes about not being able to own a piece of the earth and also talkes about how we see our self worth in the eyes of others and that it can be a vicious cycle…I feel like I connect so strongly to what he says but yet at some level I cannot convince myself that it is true. I still feel the tug of “I will be all set ONCE we own a home of our own” or “once/if we can have children” how do you get to the being happy NOW part?
Thanks for a great and thought provoking blog.
Thanks for the great comment Michelle!
You really said it well — knowing what is important is the key. And, I can relate to the tug of feeling happy when … happens. It’s so easy to think “if only” — if only I had a new car, if only my salary were greater, etc. Enjoying the moment is key (easier said than done).
Sounds like a great book, I’ll have to check it out.
Money does have close link to happiness. Nobody can be happy without money, yet nobody can be happy with a lot of money. Given a choice, I rather have enough money to stop worrying about money.
.-= scheng1´s Last Fabulous Post ..How to spend less without being miserable by Richard Templar =-.