“If you have money, you have problems!”
When people around the world are asked what would improve their quality of life, the overwhelming majority respond, “more money.” Even people who describe themselves as “fairly happy” believe that “a little more” money would increase their happiness and “make them feel better about themselves.”
The vast majority of people tend to confuse the concept of “quality of life” with that of “standard of living.” Standard of living is primarily directly related to income. In contrast, quality of life, which is an indicator of enjoying life and being happy, is not solely dependent on income. It is true that a very low income at the poverty level will negatively affect quality of life. However, numerous studies have shown that once the poverty level is exceeded, quality of life and happiness do not increase in relation to income.
Trying to buy happiness with money often distances people from what they truly desire. Those who seek greater happiness through earning money find themselves having to work harder, struggling to find time to spend their earnings on activities that enhance their quality of life. Happiness encompasses a wide range of emotions experienced in both the short and long term. These fall along two distinct axes: “pleasure” and “enjoyment.” Pleasure-inducing activities involve excitement, exuberance, orgasm, and comfort, which are momentary and based on physical satisfaction, and therefore quickly forgotten. In contrast, enjoyable activities such as reading a good book, engaging in deep conversation, listening to music with abandon, or even dancing are based on spiritual fulfillment and yield long-term results. These types of activities require accumulation and skill and make the person feel their strengths.
Ultimately, people discover that happiness and meaning are not things that can be sought and found,