--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [..HOME..][..TOP POSTS..][..NEW DROP LIST..][..LINKS..][..ADVERTISE..]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Can Money Really Buy Happiness

'
This post attempts to provide some much needed insights on the age old question:

"Can money really buy happiness?"

A few months ago, i was having a discussion with my friend about the kind of life we're living in nowadays.

People are working longer hours than ever before and even well educated graduates struggle to afford a decent sized roof over their heads.

(The above statement may not be true for all countries, but it certainly is true for my country where land is scarce.)

We were then wondering, how can poor people survive in that case?

Recently, i just thought of the answer.

People with a lower
earning power simply purchase a smaller apartment from the government.

These people must live in contentment with what they have.

In developed nations, people are working harder and harder, trying to afford bigger houses, and fill them up with more and more expensive stuff. In the process, they spend more time at work and neglect their loved ones in the process thinking that money can bring happiness.

Perhaps the richest person of all is the person that is filled with the abundance of love and joy and happiness, and not the world's richest person.

The bible tells us "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" What is the use of an abundance of money if all that you have is a host of "false friends" who stick with you in times of riches and success, but leave you at the first signs of trouble.

Perhaps the key to a happier life cannot be bought with common wealth, but generated through a deeper, fuller relationship with your loved ones. Maybe instead of working that extra overtime to earn a few extra dollars, you might consider going home early to spend more time with your family.

Thats where the interpersonal communication tips provided in this blog comes into play. Posts such as How to Win Friends and Influence People will really make a difference in your relationships and hopefully provide part of the key to happiness that everyone is searching for.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your people might be unlucky for having limited land resources as you have said but you are still very lucky coz your government support you wiith housing...where I was born, housing projects have only become a source of corruption... the money for public housing? The officials pocket the most!

Anonymous said...

You are having a good view of this happiness thing. We have to admit that money is a need but not too much of it. People are generally blinded by money! Whether they we accept it or not, it happens to us with or without our notice..very few remain themselves...and the more money that comes, people tend to crave for more...and that is the worse part of it, neglecting families for the money! for seeking more money!

Anonymous said...

I will check that how to win friends topic of yours... though i have very good friends already, i want to make new ones where i just resettled and be not shy over things...this i s where the leadership/influencing comes in...

TThanks for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the key to a happier life cannot be bought with common wealth, but generated through a deeper, fuller relationship with your loved ones. Maybe instead of working that extra overtime to earn a few extra dollars, you might consider going home early to spend more time with your family.

This sage advice to live by. So many people are busy collecting commodities they loose site of what is important in life. The size of the house is unimportant and all that matters is that it is filled with love.

Anonymous said...

Can money buy happiness - Absolutely not! When I look around in the world we live in, I see many people that live in much poorer countries seem to be a lot happier and more content that people living in richer countries.

What comes with money (in many cases) is greed, people no longer live the life they want to live they live life according to what their peers expect of them.

Mind you this is not always true and I know rich people that are truly happy. I just don't think that money can buy you true happiness. This is in your heart.

Unknown said...

Will money buy happiness? That's the age long question isn't it? Well, yes and no basically, depending on one's definition of happiness.

In the real world, money can buy you health (it's almost impossible to eat healthily on a low budget).

Money can buy you companionship. Let's be frank about this shall we? A wealthy banker will find it easier to get hitched as compared to a pauper.

Money can get you tangible assets. I don't think there's any discussion about this really.

BUT (there's always a 'but' isn't it?), we do see a lot of healthy people surrounded by women (or men for that matter) slooshing around in their Olympic size pool feeling like they still lack something...

Men (and women), inherently, are borned with a hole in their soul and we are constantly looking for means and ways to fill that hole up.

Money does not get you happiness. But having money does make it easier for you to be happy.

Anonymous said...

In my case yes as I am apart from my Child and Fiance due to lack of funds! hehehe..working on it though.

I am looking also for a nice link exchange..I have three blogs..would you like that? I REALLY LIKE YOUR BLOG.

PHILIP JOHNSON said...

Brother David Steindl-Rast :

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more.Yours is a nice blog.