A friend of mine is a high-end equity analyst. On a daily basis, he meets big time entrepreneurs – the top notch of their respective fields. He asked me if I can spot an aspect that’s common between all of them? I said I can’t and asked him to answer.
I was sure he was going to mention a characteristic which makes them successful. But his answer surprised me. He said that the common thing is that, by and large, most of them live not just stressed but miserable lives. Well, so much for success and wealth. And yet we hanker after it!
Relationship between Money and Happiness
Maybe what our scriptures say has a grain of truth in it. This world does seem to be an illusion. Appearances are deceptive. While money appears to be a panacea when you don’t have any, it certainly isn’t one.
So this question is a million-dollar question that each of us should ask ourselves: Can money make us happy? This article (Happiness, Money and Giving it Away) gives you a researched account of the relationship between happiness and money and also includes a relevant reference to the life of Warren Buffett. It says that money has a direct correlation with your well being until a certain threshold (which most of us have crossed) following which the relationship becomes inverse.
Is the Chase worth it?
Studies have repeatedly shown this about jackpot winners . A couple of years after winning the jackpot, the winners (many of whom belong to the lower middle class category) end up worse off than before. A late teacher of mine Egbert Sukop always said that money is not the solution to your money problems.
Our lives have become difficult in many ways owing to this chase. We have compromised on our health, our relationships and our personal growth owing to this relentless pursuit. We have never stopped to question its worthwhileness. Getting this understanding right can make our life very easy.
Take a Big Picture View
There is a simple way to get it right. Look at the wealthy around you. Then ask yourself these two questions:
Are their faces are emanating greater ease and happiness?
Are their lives and lifestyles less complicated than yours?
If you are wealthy yourself, ask yourself these two questions. Take a big picture view. If you have friends who are wealthy, you may also have access to their lives in greater detail. You can answer the questions better. That can go a long way in helping you carve out your understanding.
Not that you will not find wealthy families that are by and large happy too but on the whole you might find a certain correlation between money and happiness that might set you thinking.
