I have been giving this question a lot of thought since I started the d2p plan. The more I ponder it, the more it seems that both sides of the argument have merit. It would seem that money has bought more hapiness than poverty has, but it also makes sense that hapiness comes from inside us. Anybody care to comment or share their insight?
I have to agree with the previous statement that many people that are dirt poor are happy. Money surely can buy fun but not happiness. After all the fun is over, does happiness remain. Now vacations, going to nice restaurant and buying nice things can make someone happy but in the same token these things can create unhappiness and stress.
Happiness is defined view way differently in other countires. Many 3-world countries have people that find happiness but don't have much money to there name. Did you know that people in the United States really don't live as long as many people in third world countries.
Stress is a killer of happiness. We here in the states have a lot of stresses that kill happiness and sometimes money can be the stress that kills happiness.
Am I saying money is a bad thing? Certainly not! Happiness is a choice and money really can't buy it. Money can buy many things though.
John D. Rockefeller When asked if he was happy with all his riches, he said, "I have made millions, but they have brought be no happiness." _____________________________________________________________________________
John Jacob Astor [1763-1848] American Fur Company Tycoon--left his children with $20 million at his death in 1848 "I am the most miserable man on earth" _____________________________________________________________________________
William Henry Vanderbilt[1821-1885] Railroad developer and financer. The wealthiest man in America during his time and the father of the wealthiest family in America "The care of two hundred million is enough to kill anyone. There's no pleasure in it." ________________________________________________________________________________________
Henry Ford [1863-1947] "I was happier when doing a mechanic's job"
I have been giving this question a lot of thought since I started the d2p plan. The more I ponder it, the more it seems that both sides of the argument have merit. It would seem that money has bought more hapiness than poverty has, but it also makes sense that hapiness comes from inside us. Anybody care to comment or share their insight?
I think before you can determine if money can buy happiness you have to first clearly define what happiness means to you. There are a lot of definitions of happiness. To some it means joy, to others it means contentment and fulfillment.
Personally I believe money can buy happiness...to a degree. When you use money to buy a special gift for someone you love you feel a sense of happiness. When you use money to achieve a worthy goal you feel happiness. In these examples money is a tool to help you do something you believe to be good and the effect can be a feeling of joy and fulfillment. However there are also many ways a person can feel fulfilled without having any money. Donating your time and skill to help others can also have the same effect.
Do you think the man with 10 million dollars is any happier than the person with 9 million dollars?
I like the question because it makes you think. It would seem like they both should be happy to about the same degree, but what if they both had the same amount of debts...say 9 1/2 million dollars. I bet the guy with 10 million would be a lot happier than the guy with only 9 mil. So maybe happiness is really a relative thing.
I think the real source of happiness is within our own minds. Happiness is an attitude. As Abraham Lincoln said "I think most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is not the result of our circumstances. It's the result of how we respond to our circumstances. I think a persons happiness is measured by what he has compared to what he wants.
