I know this is a phrase we all have heard. Does money actually equal happiness? I can say for me it doesn’t, and I know people for them it does. It’s really up to the person if this statement is true for them. I remember years ago when I was in a bad place financially I was sitting with my roommate and this question came up. Her response was, money will not make you happy. I thought at that moment she was crazy. I said to her it will solve all my problems that are making me unhappy! What I didn’t realize at the time is I needed to be happy with what I had. I needed to find what would make me happy outside of having money. I have met many people that have that same mind frame. Well if I had more money all my problems would go away, and I have met people who have all the money in the world and are miserable. We as humans are brought up in a society that programs us to believe that money will make us happy. The luxury home, the expensive cars, the vacations, designer clothes, etc. We are constantly looking at people with wealth everyday, and assume that is happiness. I truly believe that money doesn’t equal happiness. A lot of these materialistic things do create happiness for us, but it is a short lived gratification that we think is happiness. All of those things can be taken away and then what would you be left with? We all work hard and make goals to succeed to be able to buy and do these nice things and I totally get that. I totally agree with making yourself a goal to treat yourself every now and again. We just need to find a way to be happy with what we currently have. Happy to just wake up in the morning, happy for the family and friends that are in our lives.. Find a passion that makes you happy. Find a way to make your inner soul shine with happiness and the luxury items are simply just an addition to what you have already created for yourself. I of course understand there are situations that arise where money does help and I get that, I just want people to see that you have to find your happiness outside of materialistic things.
I truly try my best to find happiness within myself. Of course I splurge every now and again as life can be hard and it is nice to have that instant gratification, but that quick gratification will not solve your problems. I know for some it makes it worse and become greedy! Your ego will take over and will assume those instant gratifications are coming at a fast pace. So you find yourself always wanting more and more to stay “happy”. I never came from money so maybe I don’t understand it and maybe it does make some happy, but I know for me it’s not happiness. For me I work on my happiness daily and will continue that everyday. I try to stay present with what I have and shine light on that. Money can bring alot of harm I believe as well. I know when my brother was dealing with his mental health issues it was hard for us to put him in an amazing facility because it costs thousands of dollars. So for me, it was like ok you have to continue to suffer because you don’t have money. I know a-lot of people go through these types of situations and it makes me so sad. How do we all survive going forward? Do we work 2-3 jobs to be able to pay for things we need? Do we become so dependent on it that we become absolutely exhausted and it takes a toll on our health? I found myself there years ago. I was working 3 jobs at a time and could barely pay my rent. I couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong. I was working hard and long hours and being punished for it. That’s why I said to my roommate, money does make you happy. I do not agree with my then self anymore.
We obviously need money. I get that. We as humans deserve nice things as well. I get that. I just don’t want our whole being to be based off of money. Let’s find a way to be happy without focusing so much on it. Believe me I’m preaching to the choir here I know, but maybe we can just try to find something daily that makes you happy. I saw a post on Instagram that said take a picture of one thing daily that makes you happy. Maybe it’s your morning coffee or your blanket when you are snuggled up on the couch. Find something daily that you are happy for. Find yourself in the present day. Find yourself shining a little bit daily even when things are tough! You have the strength. If we can practice all of these things good will come. When we stay in the present and do good for ourselves and others the good will come. We all work hard for the money (as the song goes) and I understand that, just be mindful of your happiness.
MUCH LOVE
XOXO