How Money Can Buy Happiness and Why You Want to Believe It Can’t
Is permanent bliss the expected payoff for accomplishing your goals?
After achieving your financial objectives, do you think you’ll experience everlasting joy?
Through the loss of a loved one, physical illness or the cancellation of your favorite TV show, do you trust your cash will comfort you?
Of course not. That’s silly.
But you wouldn’t knowingly chase a dream that’d make you unhappy.
Money won’t protect you from all of life’s disappointments. Then again, nothing will.
Why set such a ridiculous standard for money?
Many factors contribute to happiness. It’s okay to admit that money is one of them.
Although you may associate financial affluence with fabulous designer clothes or lakefront mansions, money also provides intangible benefits that are often ignored.
Money Talks. It says, “You did good.”
Money is so much more than copper, nickel, and cotton fiber paper.
To a certain extent, it’s a measure of your service.
I often log in to my PayPal account just to gaze at the deposit transactions. To me, those payments look like an enthusiastic thumbs up paired with a toothy grin. They’re my customers’ way of saying, “Thank you for what you do.”
Oh sure, there are people who receive outrageous sums of cash for destroying customer value.
And there are people who do amazing work for society who don’t even receive a living wage.
But sandwiched between the obscenely overpaid and the absurdly underpaid are people whose income fairly depicts their level of service.
Money Frees You
You wanna go where you wanna go, do what you wanna do, say what you wanna say.
You want to enjoy life without restraint.
It’s not always the case, but money grants you access to certain freedoms.
Recently, a friend and I were talking about the gentrification that’s taking place in his neighborhood.
If you’ve never witnessed it, here’s what gentrification looks like.
- Investors flock to a rundown neighborhood with desirable traits such as close proximity to a major job center.
- They snap up properties from existing owners in hopes of later selling or renting them at a higher price.
- No longer able to afford skyrocketing housing prices, people living in these areas, who are mostly renters, have to move.
Residents often claim they’re being pushed out of their homes (which they don’t own by the way) because of their ethnicity.
That’s a bunch of bunk.
If they had the funds to pay the new rates, they wouldn’t have to go anywhere. They’d be free to stay (or go).
But the freedom money provides isn’t just about being able to afford pricey real estate.
In many instances, without money, you’re stuck.
It gives you the mobility to pursue your passions.
To escape a life devoid of fulfillment.
To take risks.
Money Kicks Fear In the Chest and Builds Courage
I’ll be honest with you. A lot of things scare me.
- Not being able to feel my nose running on a cold, windy day.
- Passing out in a sports conditioning group exercise class.
- Losing my train of thought mid sentence while guest hosting a national morning talk show.
None of these fears have anything to do with money. And sadly, money won’t make them go away.
A lack of financial resources may be enough of an excuse for you to accept the unacceptable.
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