Brianna Barnes Conv 5

In the TedTalk, The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz discusses how so much choice leads to less freedom and happiness. Some of his premises included how the more choice we have been provided over time has led to more indecisiveness and higher expectations for the options we are presented. Whether it’s the options at the grocery store or the style of clothes that we wear, there is so many options that it can feel hard to decide and even once we do we end up regretting the decision and contemplating how much better the latter choice would have been. For the article I chose to read “From the perfect salary to keeping up with the Joneses, here’s how money really affects your happiness”. In the article it talks how about opposed to what material goods you can gain from more money, the focus should be on what fulfilling ways you can use your money and finding a job that satisfies your passions. It also discussed studied salaries that bring happiness to the average American and how after a certain amount, happiness is unaffected. A Princeton study showed that after 75k a year happiness was unaffected. A Purdue study in 2018 showed that 95k brings life satisfaction and 60-75k for emotion satisfaction. I agree with both but I think that overall it’s about what you do with your money that determines happiness. If it is only spent on material goods than that does nothing for who you are as a person and fulfilling fundamental needs. While spending money on clothes and cars can be exciting it’s not the only way to be happy in life. Sharing the wealth can be much more appreciated in the long run. Whether it’s giving back to the community around you or helping loved ones who may not be as fortunate as you, it’s important to give back to those that helped you get to where you are now. Money can still be used on things that are personally for you but still emotionally fulfilling, such as maybe being able to have experiences that maybe you dreamed of as a child but didn’t have access to. Overall using the money you’ve gained through all your hard work should go towards emotional fulfillment just as much as material.