Reading about a seminar hold on Happiness and Its Causes, several of the thoughts covered in the article stuck me as worthy of sharing with you.
Can money buy happiness?
Firstly, money can buy you happiness, but only to a certain degree. Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert, the author of Stumbling on Happiness, says that once basic needs are met, earning extra money doesn’t buy that much more happiness. He illustrates this by saying that: “The difference in happiness between someone who earns $5,000 and $50,000 is dramatic, but the difference between someone who earns $50,000 and $50 million is not.”
If you really want to earn more money, pay attention to the wise words of Professor Paula Barrett, the founder and director of the Pathways Health Research Centre in Brisbane, Australia. “The best way to earn more money is to find what you’re really passionate about and give yourself 100 per cent to that passion.” In that vein, the entrepreneur David Sarnoff said: “Nobody can be successful unless he loves his work.”
Can spending bring happiness?
Secondly, the way you spend your money can affect your level of happiness. Some people may think that they can buy happiness through making large purchases; such as, a big house or a long holiday. However, the reverse is actually true; that is, frequent smaller purchases tend to make us happier than infrequent larger purchases. This means that, from time to time, it is a good idea to reward yourself with the little luxuries of life – the things that you really enjoy.
Happiness isn’t more things
Thirdly, accumulating possessions is not a shortcut to happiness. The consumer treadmill says, “One day, I’ll be happier when I get something else,” then you get there and you want something else again. It is very sad indeed, if you spend your life working hard to buy all these things, instead of spending quality time with your loved ones.
How much time do you have?
Fourthly, the greatest joys in life are spending time in nature, time with family and close friends and enjoying things; such as, food and exercise. The issue is that you only have so many minutes in a day; therefore every extra hour, for example, that you spend at work, is one hour that you are not spending on these sort of enjoyable soul-rejuvenating activities.
Being grateful
Lastly, Bronwyn McNulty, the journalist who wrote a feature article for The Sun-Herald Living Life so your Heart’s Content, said that happiness isn’t about how much money you earn but about being happy with what you have. Dr. Tim Sharp of the Happiness Institute says: “Being happy with what you have is a skill that can be learnt.”
I hope these thoughts coming out of this seminar will give you some guidance as to how to live a happier and richer life. The next Happiness and Its Causes seminar will be held this May at the Seymour Centre in Sydney. You can obtain further details from their website: www.happinessanditscauses.com.au
Be Happy Be Rich 