Everyday we are bombarded by messages from our materialistic
society suggesting that we should value money and seek it out for
happiness. The messages emphasize the idea that spending money on
particular products will bring us beauty, fame, happiness, fortune, or
popularity. We unconsciously follow that convention for the shake of our
role as good members of the society. Sadly, this wrongly drives us to
believe that happiness is impossible to reach without having money.
We are taught everyday by the advertising that in order to fulfill our emotional needs or make ourselves happy, we should buy various kinds of goods and services. The media try to tell us everyday that through particular purchases we will get all the psychological comfort we are seeking for. As the result, we learn to want more rather than to feel satisfied with what we have. In fact, the key to happiness is nearly as elusive as the fountain of youth. Although all of us want happiness, regardless how much money we have, we cannot buy it.
Certainly having a fancy car, buying a new house, owing luxurious jewelry, or winning prize can bring happiness, but this is more like temporary relief rather than long-term satisfaction. Some people are happier than others regardless the amount of money they have. In fact, we can see that people with lots of money desperately seek help to reach happiness. Money is obviously not the thing that determines our happiness quotient.
So, if happiness is not for sale, how can we obtain it? Also, what makes some people happier than others?
According to a report on Journal of Consumer Research experiences are proven to bring more happiness than material goods. It means, going on vacation contributes more to happiness than buying a fancy car does.
Interestingly studies on genetics reveal that some people are naturally happy due to the genes they have.
Some people own genes that make them to recover more quickly than the rest, though no one is immune to sadness.
According to psychologists, people having a romantic partner and family tend to be happier, since family is an automatic social network giving these people a sense of purpose in their lives. However, actually ingredients for a happy life can be more than a family; feeling productive beyond home, having good friends, and engaging in great work leading to another mean to reach happiness by spicing up life with variety. Adding new people and experiences our life can bring happiness as long as we do not overdo it.
An American psychologist reported that people who invest in life experiences rather than buying material things achieve more happiness. According the his study, it is because experiences in common contribute more to social relationships, are easier to interpret positively and are more meaningful as part of personal identity. Unfortunately, negative experiences seem to reduce happiness more than negative material purchases.
Of course to work and get enough money is essential to provide for the basic needs of ourselves and our families. However, we need to recognize immediately when the desire for personal possessions becomes much consuming. Having money and spending it may give us temporary relief in life but cannot provide us with long-lasting benefits. Regardless the amount of money we have and how much you spend, our underlying emotional issues remain.
After all, we can see that money can bring satisfaction at times but it cannot make us happy on a daily basis. It means, if we want to find true happiness, first we should try to improve our attitudes towards money.
There are many different ways that can bring us happiness without money such as by being thankful for what we have, volunteering our time to others having disabilities, or enriching our body with healthy lifestyle. It is scientifically proven that among the keys of happiness is the balance between a satisfying work life and a rich home life.
We are taught everyday by the advertising that in order to fulfill our emotional needs or make ourselves happy, we should buy various kinds of goods and services. The media try to tell us everyday that through particular purchases we will get all the psychological comfort we are seeking for. As the result, we learn to want more rather than to feel satisfied with what we have. In fact, the key to happiness is nearly as elusive as the fountain of youth. Although all of us want happiness, regardless how much money we have, we cannot buy it.
Certainly having a fancy car, buying a new house, owing luxurious jewelry, or winning prize can bring happiness, but this is more like temporary relief rather than long-term satisfaction. Some people are happier than others regardless the amount of money they have. In fact, we can see that people with lots of money desperately seek help to reach happiness. Money is obviously not the thing that determines our happiness quotient.
So, if happiness is not for sale, how can we obtain it? Also, what makes some people happier than others?
According to a report on Journal of Consumer Research experiences are proven to bring more happiness than material goods. It means, going on vacation contributes more to happiness than buying a fancy car does.
Interestingly studies on genetics reveal that some people are naturally happy due to the genes they have.
Some people own genes that make them to recover more quickly than the rest, though no one is immune to sadness.
According to psychologists, people having a romantic partner and family tend to be happier, since family is an automatic social network giving these people a sense of purpose in their lives. However, actually ingredients for a happy life can be more than a family; feeling productive beyond home, having good friends, and engaging in great work leading to another mean to reach happiness by spicing up life with variety. Adding new people and experiences our life can bring happiness as long as we do not overdo it.
An American psychologist reported that people who invest in life experiences rather than buying material things achieve more happiness. According the his study, it is because experiences in common contribute more to social relationships, are easier to interpret positively and are more meaningful as part of personal identity. Unfortunately, negative experiences seem to reduce happiness more than negative material purchases.
Of course to work and get enough money is essential to provide for the basic needs of ourselves and our families. However, we need to recognize immediately when the desire for personal possessions becomes much consuming. Having money and spending it may give us temporary relief in life but cannot provide us with long-lasting benefits. Regardless the amount of money we have and how much you spend, our underlying emotional issues remain.
After all, we can see that money can bring satisfaction at times but it cannot make us happy on a daily basis. It means, if we want to find true happiness, first we should try to improve our attitudes towards money.
There are many different ways that can bring us happiness without money such as by being thankful for what we have, volunteering our time to others having disabilities, or enriching our body with healthy lifestyle. It is scientifically proven that among the keys of happiness is the balance between a satisfying work life and a rich home life.
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