It is the age old question, does money bring happiness? Some studies have shown a link between money and happiness that has been interpreted as money creating happiness. However, there has been some discussion lately, about which came first, the chicken or the egg (in this case money or happiness). In the movie, The Secret, or the book, The Law of Attraction, by Jerry and Esther Hick, they discuss that our happiness attracts abundance (money or other things we want).

How can being happy create additional money? Think of it this way, if you are disgruntle when you go to work, are you really giving all that you have to work? Probably not, and thus will work give you back all that you deserve? Probably not. As, I have said before, why would a company want to promote an unhappy or disgruntle employee? Thus, the happier you are, the more you open yourself up for opportunities and promotions. It is like the saying goes: “Do what you love and the money will follow”. The correlation is “If you do not enjoy what you do, you will more than likely struggle.”

If money does not create happiness, then why do some studies show that money causes happiness? Well it may be because happiness is relative. In a Princeton study on happiness, they compared how individuals rated their overall happiness versus asking how happy they are from moment to moment. They found that those with higher incomes expected to be happier overall and reported a higher overall happiness. Yet, from moment to moment, they were not all that much happier that others with less income. Thus, having money makes people think that they should be happy whether it actually does or does not.

Thus, if you have more money, then you believe that you are happier. Isn’t it interesting that some studies show some that money can bring happiness but only up to $40,000 to $50,000 of income when happiness levels off. Many have pointed out that happiness increase up to a point because money can ease the stress if basic living expenses are taken care of. This has some merit, however the question is what is basic living expenses because it can drastically be different between United States and some other countries in the world. Another alternative to point out is that it can also be because the median family income is approximately $46,000 and happiness levels off around $40,000 to $50,000. Maybe people are comparing themselves to other and feel less happy when they have less? While those making more than the median income feel happier because they are fortunate and thus feel they should be happier. Thus, one may say that money does create happiness. However, it is our beliefs that cause us to be happy (or unhappy) because we are saying “I am happy if I perceive myself doing better than others.” This is shown in a research study that showed people rather earn $50,000 if they lived around others making $40,000 than earn $100,000 if others around them are earning $150,000. It reminds me of stories of workers who is happy with the salary he is earning yet then gets angry when he finds a coworker who is making $5,000 more.

So happiness is not about the event, yet how we interpret the event. Someone can have a great experience and have it ruined by comparing themselves to others. Thus, is happiness relative? Can two people in the exact same situation and one be happy while the other angry and upset based on how each of them looked at the situation? It reminds me of how we see a funeral as a solemn occasion in America, yet for some other countries it is a celebration of one’s life.

We will diminish our happiness, if we compare ourselves to others and feel less than because we have less (whether it is money, vacation, siblings, etc.), happiness. There is only one person to compare you to and this is yourself. You can not find lasting happiness from outside yourself because happiness is all within. If we go outside ourselves to find happiness by, comparing your situation with others, the search will result in having more disappointment than true happiness.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 2nd, 2006 at 7:01 am and is filed under Beliefs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.