Summary
Happiness is a subjective term depending on the person and how they perceive it. Happiness to me is being in a state where you have no worries and you are enjoying your life. Can one be happy all the time?
There is a famous quote “Money cannot buy happiness.” For me this quote is completely false. I surely do believe money can buy happiness, or for me at least it can. The thought of having a lot of money gives me happiness. Having a lot of money would help me get my dream car, my dream house, and also give me and my family financial freedom. When ever I hear someone say money doesn’t buy you happiness, they don’t know my life. Ever since I was young, money was and has been a priority for me and my brother. The way we grew up and what we went through money will bring me and my family happiness. But for other people that quote could be more than opposite to what I believe.
According to CNBC “From the ‘perfect’ salary to keeping up with the Joneses, here’s how money really affects your happiness”, this article discusses research on how income levels affect happiness. Initially, a 2010 study suggested happiness increases with income up to $75,000, then plateaus. Later, a 2018 study adjusted these figures, proposing $95,000 for life satisfaction and $60,000 to $75,000 for emotional well-being, with happiness decreasing after $105,000. Despite inflation, experts believe happiness correlates with meeting basic needs and hits a plateau in the middle-class income range, highlighting that money doesn't solve existential questions or bring ultimate happiness. The segment highlights the concept that relative wealth, rather than absolute wealth, impacts happiness. Yale's Laurie Santos notes that comparing ourselves to others can affect our satisfaction levels. This tendency for comparison and the psychological principle of "hedonic adaptation" suggest that as our income and lifestyle improve, our expectations and desires grow accordingly, potentially leading to dissatisfaction and financial missteps. Understanding this subconscious process is crucial for managing desires and maintaining happiness amidst changing financial circumstances. The author seems to be nuanced on the topic, suggesting that while more money doesn't directly buy happiness, the relative perception of one's wealth compared to others can impact happiness. This view aligns with the idea that it's not simply having money, but how one perceives their financial status in relation to others, that influences feelings of satisfaction and well-being.
Barry Schwartz suggests that while we might think having lots of choices is good, it actually can lead to stress and dissatisfaction. When there are too many options, people can feel stuck and unsure how to choose, sometimes not making a choice at all. And even after deciding, they might regret their decision, wondering if they could have chosen better. Schwartz believes that this overload of options doesn't truly make us freer or happier; instead, it can make us more anxious and less content with our decisions.
My argument is essentially that I believe money and materialistic things can and will buy people happiness. But I can also see how it doesn’t because not everyone experiences the same thing and money can be “boring” for some people if that's the only thing they grew up with.
