Your Life Won't Get Better When You Get Rich!

by zannix
52 replies
I recently came across an interesting article online which published a scientific research where they meassured the difference in levels of stress and frustration among rich and average speciments of the population.

The results were mind boggling, at least for me:

There is absolutely no correlation between money and stress/frustration, nor is there any correlation between money and happiness (based on the amount of endorphines these people secreted).
Wow... think about that. Most unhappy people keep chasing that almighty dollar in hope that they will be happier once they're "rich". Now, this is scientifically proven to be 100% incorrect.

If you're an average person, you've got average problems (mostly money related issues for us low and middle class), and that brings you a certain amount of stress and frustration. If you're rich, you've got plenty of money, but you may be bored, insecure or paranoid about your money, which is just as bad.

Face it, your life won't get any better than it currently is. You really do have to find happiness in the present moment, or you're f%cked (excuse the expression). You have to develop that skill, the ability to be grateful for what you've already got, because more stuff is just not going to do it for you.

You have to learn to master your own emotional states!

Start now, the sooner you learn to master your emotional states, the better. Money isn't going to help you do it. Money will give you comfort, but it will take away some other things in your life.

I'm not saying money is bad, I'm just saying that if your goal is to lead a happy and fulfilled life, you're chasing the wrong thing. There's something else you should be chasing instead - emotional mastery.
#life #rich
  • Profile picture of the author MilkerFocus
    Hey Zannix. I would money is not everything. but love & money are everything.

    Let me ask you question, why you want to make more money. most of people will say I want to have a better life style. We want to make ourselves feel comfortable. But unlucky, without love, you won't feel comfortable.

    If you lose all of your family, friends, and you have money. Will you be happy? sure you won't. At least I won't. I mean my family is my everything, becasue they love me. so do I.
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    • Profile picture of the author zannix
      Originally Posted by MilkerFocus View Post

      Hey Zannix. I would money is not everything. but love & money are everything.
      If by love you mean quality of relationship with yourself and others, then you're absolutely right, I agree.
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  • Profile picture of the author eternalsongbird
    Then the worst life is better than the best life to me. Getting rich is my one and only worship now.
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  • Profile picture of the author GT
    Very good point for all aspiring achievers to be aware of. I've always heard that success and achievement doesn't necessarily make us a better person. The attitudes and personality that we started with usually follows along with us, as the article you've highlighted indicates.

    Still ... having a ton of money may not make me any happier, but it will allow me more flexibility of choices and the ability to pay for any of life's expenses and challenges that are unavoidable and that most people stress about due to lack of finances.

    GT
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  • Profile picture of the author RogerzWorld
    It's a question of material gain vs fulfilling and finding our purpose in life. There are countless stories of wealthy folks committing suicide because they lacked real purpose.

    Rarely have I come across or heard of a suicide from someone who knew what they were here to do and was fulfilled doing it. I guess the operative word "fulfilled" actually has meaning. If your full of purpose then there's little to no room for anything negative in regards to your life.

    Purpose at least to me has a higher priority than money, because I believe that your purpose can bring you all that you desire. Most people have a commercialized picture of what happiness means to begin with.

    They see those with grand material gains and see them smiling and other people looking to them so that's the unfortunate picture and imprint that most have in regards to happiness. So they end up chasing what they see instead of chasing what they were created to do and there lies the difference no matter how many things you have or much money you have made.
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  • Profile picture of the author ceenote100
    You already have to be happy before you get rich. There are many unhappy rich people. Money only makes you more of what you are already.

    But on the other hand, if you came from rags to riches then that's the happiest feeling of all because you can actually experience wealth and success. People who never been poor and were born with silver spoons don't know what it really feels like to be successful and wealthy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kathy Bell
    Happiness comes from the inside. Often people think, if only I were rich I'd be happy. If only I could lose xx lbs I'd be happy. If I could just___ I'd be happy. Nope. Look within, and you'll find what you need.
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  • Profile picture of the author willrod
    I was watching the netflix documentary titled 'happy' the other day

    They said a person's wealth contributes to only 10% of a person's overall happiness. Also, that people who made 50,000 versus people who made 5,000,000 a year were NOT significantly happier! However, the comparison between poverty and a home obviously contributes to a considerable amount, and I am thinking if you are posting here you are not in that situation!

    Enjoy LIFE!
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    • Profile picture of the author sethczerepak
      Originally Posted by willrod View Post

      I was watching the netflix documentary titled 'happy' the other day

      They said a person's wealth contributes to only 10% of a person's overall happiness. Also, that people who made 50,000 versus people who made 5,000,000 a year were NOT significantly happier! However, the comparison between poverty and a home obviously contributes to a considerable amount, and I am thinking if you are posting here you are not in that situation!

      Enjoy LIFE!
      That ^ is a fantastic documentary, really nails it.

      Per how getting rich will change your life, it all depends on how prepared you are for it. If you have your emotional health together, good physical health habits, meaningful projects to invest your time, energy and money into and no life controlling addictions, money can certainly make your life better because it give you more options to build and to contribute.

      But if you have poor emotional health, bad eating and activity habits, no meaningful projects to invest your time, energy and money into and or if you have life controlling addictions (including frivolous spending, overeating etc), money will make your life hell because it will give you more options to destroy yourself and those around you.

      I've coached hundreds of people who want to make more money, and found that most of them secretly know this ^ and sabotage their own success because they know haven't gotten their S**t together yet. Even if it's just on a subconscious level. It's called fear of success.

      That's why making more $ should never be your primary goal. If you want money to make your life better, you have to get the other stuff together first.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patho
    Of course it makes sense, but money is a TOOL that you can use to make your life less stressful on the financial side...

    It leads to more Freedom (Spend more Time with Family, See the World, Explore and such) and Independence and i think these are some of the elements that "MAY" make you happy.

    Money is not the answer to Happiness directly, but it can definitely contribute in a positive way.
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  • Profile picture of the author AndreasJacobsen
    I agree that being rich won't make you happy... HOWEVER, if you have no roof over your head you cannot be happy until you have got that under control.

    I would say that once you have your basic needs covered (shelter, food, water, clothing etc.) then additional money won't make you happier.. even though you can get some pretty amazing experience if you choose to travel
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  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    I would say your life won't be better when there's no contentment.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ghoster
    This makes sense to me. Sure, if you're broke and worrying about where your next meal will come from, that's a huge stresser. On the other hand, if the very next year you become a millionaire, marry the hottest girl in your town and then find out she's been poisoning you, well that's a different kind of stresser.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dmagnet
    I believe that true happiness comes from within. There are people in this world who are living in extreme poverty and they are very happy. Ironically though there have been "rich" people who were so unhappy that they had decided to end their own lives.

    So I would agree that having money has no relation to being happier. Having said this I don't believe that having or desiring money should be "demonized" either.

    We can all make a conscious choice to just be happy. Money is just another form of energy and energy itself cannot be detrimental.

    For many of us, we were conditioned to look at life in a very pessimistic way. Everything that has happened to each of us since we were born has helped us to become who we are. There are many people who tend to look for problems and surely enough they always find them. Then they continue focus on these problems. This makes them feel unhappy because it is there dominant thought.

    But do "rich" people really have problems, Sure. Just watch an episode of Beverly Hills Housewives. Despite having all the material things They always seem to be surrounded by drama.

    Then there are those people who seem to be happy all of the time. Why? I believe that these people choose to focus om what makes them feel happy, Try it. Just think about one of the happiest moments in your life. How did you feel when you thought of this memory? If you smiled inside then you just consciously made yourself happy The next time you feel unhappy make the conscious effort to think about what makes you happy.

    So it is possible to be happy regardless of the outside circumstances including the lack of money.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikehuff
    I tell my girlfriend ALL the time that "If you're not happy without money, you're not going to be happy with money." Mostly when she complains about the state of stuff in her life and how it's gonna be so much better later.

    It won't be unless she actively MAKES it better. She's damn sure not gonna bring ME down!!
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    • Profile picture of the author zannix
      Originally Posted by mikehuff View Post

      I tell my girlfriend ALL the time that "If you're not happy without money, you're not going to be happy with money." Mostly when she complains about the state of stuff in her life and how it's gonna be so much better later.

      It won't be unless she actively MAKES it better. She's damn sure not gonna bring ME down!!
      The beautiful thing is that we are all given full control over our mind and it's up to us to nourish and develop the ability to be happy, no matter the external circumstances.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Well said. Taking personal responsibility is so important!
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  • Profile picture of the author DBracey
    And in follow up news, the scientists behind this research, upon realizing money had zero correlation with stress or happiness, quit their jobs and went home. They sold everything they owned and flushed all their money down the toilet. Safe with their scientific results, they weren't concerned about having no money at all, since it was now a scientific fact that a lack of money wouldn't mean they would have any additional stress, frustration, or a reduction in their ability to feel happy. A follow up study has been commissioned by their replacements, in which they'll follow the now homeless and starving ex-scientists in an effort to understand how humans deal with extreme stress, unbridled frustration, and severe unhappiness.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeBailey
    Banned
    Zannix,

    This is a great post, I have been thinking about this a lot lately.
    I just started working from home and I thought that the financial independence from one company/boss would be great (and it does have it's benefits) however, I now have to figure out how to get my own clients on a regular basis, do accounting, do marketing, pay everyone else then see what is left.

    So instead of working for one job, I know have over a dozen clients which I truly appreciate but it is difficult to take a day off, or feel relaxed because usually half of those clients want something done or are trying to weasle out of paying me. Although I have been lucky in paying the rent/bills and having excess spending money, I now noticed that everything I buy just piles up and I never have the time/energy to enjoy it. I have half of a bookshelf full of books/graphic novels that I want to read but I'm to exhausted after work to read them. I have a 60" inch television that I bought to play movies/xBox on but now I am always to tired and just sleep or watch TV.

    After all this I realized I was less stressed working for someone else and had more free time because my mind wasn't always worrying about ten different things.

    Life is really about enjoying the moment, when you are a kid cherish being a kid because it won't last long, when you are in highschool and want to move out of the house, think again living at home is awesome because your rent/utilities/food/virtually everything is paid for. I am in my 20's right now and I'm already thinking about retirement and I'm sure that once I retire I'm going to look back and remember the good ol days when I was young
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  • I guess the cash is just Gravy

    if you've got a rotten piece of meat it won't do you much good.

    if you have a nice piece of roast beef then the gravy will make it all the sweeter.
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  • Profile picture of the author oppyeaunome
    Listen when you become successful and you make all the money you could ever want you could still be the most unhappy person. Even though I'm successful I was always happy so when it happened I was to enjoy it. If you think money will make you happy you are heading for the greatest shocker you'll ever have in this life. Money should add to your already existing happiness you know. I have this friend he made $350,000 dollars in a day already and a 1 million in a month but when he made it he wanted more, until he reached the point that his wife began to cheat on him and left him, he became anti-social and lost all his friends and he went into the worst state of depression ever known to man., he neglected his health he was a wreck. So he was a multimillionaire but he had absolutely nothing. Luckily he bounced back. It just goes to show money really ain't everything

    Peace,
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  • Profile picture of the author Sue McDonald
    Money does not make you happy by itself. What you want is to live a rich spiritual life and be prepared to help others.
    The money will provide the material things that you want in life but it will not provide true happiness. True happiness comes form within.
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  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    When i get rich i'll spare some to charity, i would be happy and life would be easy.
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  • Profile picture of the author jsmiz
    Like many people say, money doesn't make you happier but it sure makes like more comfortable!
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  • Profile picture of the author jlcs
    I would rather to say it is all about balancing not only in life.
    Balancing is the nature.
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  • Profile picture of the author kleo
    I have two children with high special needs that won't be able to make money when
    they are older. If I make a great deal of money and leave them with it, I would say
    I would be very happy. So money would provide me happiness and relieve stress.
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  • Profile picture of the author Angellos
    Money was never designed to make anyone happy, happiness and fulfillment is an inside job. Money makes us more comfortable, plus money just makes you more of who you are.
    The good thing is that if you as a person grows just as your money grows that will alleviate most of that stress and frustration.
    Jim Rohn said; "make a goal to become a millionaire for what it will make of you to achieve it", what better reason to want to become rich.
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  • Profile picture of the author kleo
    "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy"

    Spike Milligan
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  • Profile picture of the author Angellos

    I came across this explanation of riches by Napoleon Hill, thought it was appropriate to the subject.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
    Financial stress is what people who want to make more money are trying to run away from. Money does most certainly make you happy or at least happier if being financially stressed is making you unhappy as it does to everyone.

    Making $1,000 a week and spending $1,000 a week will give you financial stress. Making $1,000,000 a week and spending $1,000,000 a week will also give you the same (if not worse) financial stress. Money doesn't affect your happiness but...

    If your expenses are $1,000 a week and you make more money (say $2,000 a week) it will almost certainly alleviate most (if not all) that financial stress and lack of stress or unhappiness will perhaps not create ecstasy but it will certainly make you a happier person.

    It's not how much you make, it's how much you spend that determines your level of stress. Most of us can't spend any less but we can certainly make more so therefore making more money will certainly make you happier. What those reports (who are mostly written by working people with financial stress trying to prove a point) do wrong (in my view) is they measure income and compare it to happiness without taking financial stress into account so they are flawed.

    What they should be measuring is how happy are people who spend all their money compared to how happy are people who do not spend all their money and have their financial life under control. If they did that they would almost always discover that people with less financial stress are left with other things to worry about and - given that people's natural state is one of well being and calm joy - having financial stress almost always over crowds the emotional state and therefore leaves one feeling miserable. If you have no (or less) financial stress then you are left with 'normal' life which leaves more room for happiness to exist.

    It's not about having more money. It's about having enough money. And having enough money is possible and achievable by most people (especially in 1st world countries). We are all on this forum to make more money so all the fairy talk about "inner peace" and "you don't need money to be happy" is mute and irrelevant and post stuffing. What people should be focusing on is controlling their expenses, making more money so they have enough to spend on things that do make them happy (or smile) and pushing distance between themselves and that magnetic financial stress line.

    I've interviewed hundreds of people on this very topic (sometimes debating this very topic for hours at a time - yesterday I did an interview on this very topic that lasted for 5 hours) for my book and happiness and money is one of my main areas of interest so I can tell you that "Money Does (or at least...CAN) Make You Happy" if it's used to push you away from financial stress. It's kind of like the science of vacuum versus pressure. As soon as the financial PRESSURE is gone there's a vacuum which is filled with natural happiness - or at least relief which is just as good sometimes.
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    • Profile picture of the author zannix
      Originally Posted by Mr Bill View Post

      Financial stress is what people who want to make more money are trying to run away from. Money does most certainly make you happy or at least happier if being financially stressed is making you unhappy as it does to everyone.

      Making $1,000 a week and spending $1,000 a week will give you financial stress. Making $1,000,000 a week and spending $1,000,000 a week will also give you the same (if not worse) financial stress. Money doesn't affect your happiness but...

      If your expenses are $1,000 a week and you make more money (say $2,000 a week) it will almost certainly alleviate most (if not all) that financial stress and lack of stress or unhappiness will perhaps not create ecstasy but it will certainly make you a happier person.

      It's not how much you make, it's how much you spend that determines your level of stress. Most of us can't spend any less but we can certainly make more so therefore making more money will certainly make you happier. What those reports (who are mostly written by working people with financial stress trying to prove a point) do wrong (in my view) is they measure income and compare it to happiness without taking financial stress into account so they are flawed.

      What they should be measuring is how happy are people who spend all their money compared to how happy are people who do not spend all their money and have their financial life under control. If they did that they would almost always discover that people with less financial stress are left with other things to worry about and - given that people's natural state is one of well being and calm joy - having financial stress almost always over crowds the emotional state and therefore leaves one feeling miserable. If you have no (or less) financial stress then you are left with 'normal' life which leaves more room for happiness to exist.

      It's not about having more money. It's about having enough money. And having enough money is possible and achievable by most people (especially in 1st world countries). We are all on this forum to make more money so all the fairy talk about "inner peace" and "you don't need money to be happy" is mute and irrelevant and post stuffing. What people should be focusing on is controlling their expenses, making more money so they have enough to spend on things that do make them happy (or smile) and pushing distance between themselves and that magnetic financial stress line.

      I've interviewed hundreds of people on this very topic (sometimes debating this very topic for hours at a time - yesterday I did an interview on this very topic that lasted for 5 hours) for my book and happiness and money is one of my main areas of interest so I can tell you that "Money Does (or at least...CAN) Make You Happy" if it's used to push you away from financial stress. It's kind of like the science of vacuum versus pressure. As soon as the financial PRESSURE is gone there's a vacuum which is filled with natural happiness - or at least relief which is just as good sometimes.
      I appreciate what you're saying, but I'd also like to point out that you're viewing it from a narrow angle. Financial stress is just one type of stress that most people go through, however, it is not the only one.

      The trouble is, most people wouldn't know what to do with their lives even if they had all of their financial troubles sorted out. They would expect to live happily ever after, which is clearly a misinterpreted delusion. That's the point of this research (in my view).
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      • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
        Originally Posted by zannix View Post

        I appreciate what you're saying, but I'd also like to point out that you're viewing it from a narrow angle. Financial stress is just one type of stress that most people go through, however, it is not the only one.

        The trouble is, most people wouldn't know what to do with their lives even if they had all of their financial troubles sorted out. They would expect to live happily ever after, which is clearly a misinterpreted delusion. That's the point of this research (in my view).
        Actually, the opposite is tru. I'm not taking a narrow view at all. I'm coming at it from a entirely holistic and very wide view. Most of what people worry about is money problems (as proof - how many crimes are based on or about money?). I think you'll be surprised how busy people would be enjoying their hobbies and passions if they didn't have to spend all day working and every day worrying. It's a myth that people would be bored and aimless if they had enough money to push away financial stress.

        I don't think any human has ever expected to live "happily ever after" - that's another over perpetuated and to often repeated myth. Nothing I've ever spoken or written about. But I can tell you from personal experience and hundreds of personal interviews with people who are trying to find a way to make more money (as are all members of this forum) that removing financial stress (by managing your money and making enough to keep financial stress away - which is quite a simple process if you know how) is a very fast path to a much better life and it's fairly easy to prove. How would you feel if you had enough money to live a great life? The answer is obvious.

        I think you'll find that without that frown that broke people wear every day you'll have many more opportunities to be happy about normal things. The real trick is to find a way to make enough money to push away the financial stress line. Too many people fantasise about "millionairism" as the only way to have enough money to be "financially free" - the truth is (in reality) very different. The biggest problem is that no one has ever put any thought into how much money is enough. The number one question I ask people right at the start of my interviews is "how much money do you want to make". Almost without exception - not one person has ever had a satisfactory answer and there lies the heart of the problem of financial worry.
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      • Profile picture of the author ShaneGorry
        There is a saying, not sure who to attribute it too, that goes something like. "The rich still have problems, but it's a higher class of problem." As someone who has been poor in the extreme in the past I can tell you this is true.

        Give me the stress of changing web hosts at the 11th hour before a product launch to the stress of listening to Sally talk about John is doing the wild thing with Glenda's niece Betsy and her ex BFF Gina. So now uncle Bill is going to jail again because he hit John's cousin Todd with a rake down the tavern when...

        And as for all this happiness talk, the pursue of happiness seems to have become as much of an obsession as getting rich in the hope of a better life. IMO chasing the ups all the time will inevitably fail just as surely as getting rich when it comes to life improvement.

        What I find works is working on balance. It's going to include some sad as well as happy and some struggle as well as reward. Like a boat tacking into the wind you won't always be on coarse but over time you will be heading in the direction of a better life.

        Living all of your life is far better then sitting around waiting for the aliens, Jesus, or that big lotto win to come and save you. Just my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author wlasikiewicz
    I would make my life better if i was rich there is no doubt about that.
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  • Profile picture of the author eternalsongbird
    It's not true for all. In case of me, money is the real source of happiness. I have everything without money. Rather money problem is destroying my happiness.
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  • Profile picture of the author aliveder
    You can't appreciate what money can get you, if you first are not happy with who you are.
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  • Profile picture of the author mmrumii
    It's a proven truth. I have seen many of my friends getting changed after earning a of money. They even have forgot their origin after getting rich.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
      Originally Posted by mmrumii View Post

      It's a proven truth. I have seen many of my friends getting changed after earning a of money. They even have forgot their origin after getting rich.
      Proven truth? Really?! Gee, thanks for the warning. I guess we should all just stop trying to make any more money because it's going to have no effect on our lives what so ever and it's now been "proven" to make our lives worse. :rolleyes: As I look outside my window I can see a few nice trees. Maybe I'll make like a wombat, dig a burrow and go and live under one.
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  • Profile picture of the author wackiin
    It is true I use to make alot of money had all the stuff I could want but the headache and always being on the go gets to you.
    When I get back to that point this go around i will do it a bit different and not let the money interfere with life family and friends.

    another thing when your making really large amounts of cash and then go broke it takes about a month to find out who your true friends are lol
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  • Profile picture of the author bcruan
    this is b@llocks. try giving all your money away, then let me know if this did not have any impact upon happiness. This is a ridiculous thread.
    " money is not everything, but its up there with oxygen".
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Originally Posted by zannix View Post

    Most unhappy people keep chasing that almighty dollar in hope that they will be happier once they're "rich". Now, this is scientifically proven to be 100% incorrect.
    Proven? Hardly, hypothesized is all.
    Endorphins are the body's natural pain relievers. They act like opiates to reduce pain and bring about a feeling of euphoria and well-being.
    A very good argument could be made that an "endorphin high" and happiness are two different things. I can get an endorphin high by running, but running does not make me happy.

    Happiness can take on many forms. Endorphins are certainly not the only measure of happiness, maybe not even a good measure of it.

    Face it, your life won't get any better than it currently is.
    Pretty presumptuous of you. How would you know? Because some guy wrote something somewhere? Look, I'm sure you meant well, but when you make sweeping generalizations about people you don't even know, you're going to run into resistance. This is especially so when you challenge their beliefs or throw cold water on their hopes and dreams.
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    • Profile picture of the author zannix
      It seems that many people misrepresented this thread to be saying that it makes absolutely no difference whether you have money or not, which is not true at all.

      Instead, the point being here is that excess of money will have no real impact on the emotional quality of your life, which (for me at least) is the only thing that's important.

      I'm not saying that broke people should be happy, they have a very hard time being happy because their very existence is threatened, but I'm saying that there is absolutely no guarantee that they'll be actually HAPPI-ER once they're rich. Please, do not mistake happiness with temporarily relief or comfort.

      I'm all for money, it really does bring comfort and extends freedom tremendously. But it does not, I repeat, does not guarantee happiness, for happiness is a practiced state of mind, a set of learned beliefs about yourself and about the world around you which helps you deal with daily stress and negative things that you can't control and allows you to appreciate and be grateful and proud of the things you already possess.

      So for people who are prioritize happiness over all other things in life (and many do), putting money first as their primary goal is wrong. I stand by my opinion.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
        Originally Posted by zannix View Post

        So for people who are prioritize happiness over all other things in life (and many do), putting money first as their primary goal is wrong. I stand by my opinion.
        See, there's a problem ... wrong is a judgment, and in that statement you apply your judgment to everyone who thinks differently than you - even though you don't know them or their circumstances. You don't get to decide what's wrong for others, only for yourself.

        Standing by your opinion is fine, but your opinion does not define other people's reality, only your perception of their reality. For all of us, our reality is colored (and often distorted) by our experiences, biases, emotions, mental programming, ego, and many other personal filters.

        There are over 7 billion people on this planet, and so, there are over 7 billion different interpretations of reality. Each of us, in my opinion, are here for different purposes, to have different experiences, and to learn different lessons at different times. We're not all running off the same program or the same timeline. Your "opinion" applies to you.

        Please note that I happen to agree that your comment has merit. It does apply - in a varying degrees - to many people, it's the way you proclaim your "truth" as "the way it is for everyone" that is unfortunate.

        As I said in a previous post, sweeping generalizations will nearly always be met with resistance, and rightly so ... they're nearly always wrong.
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        • Profile picture of the author zannix
          Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

          See, there's a problem ... wrong is a judgment, and in that statement you apply your judgment to everyone who thinks differently than you - even though you don't know them or their circumstances. You don't get to decide what's wrong for others, only for yourself.

          Standing by your opinion is fine, but your opinion does not define other people's reality, only your perception of their reality. For all of us, our reality is colored (and often distorted) by our experiences, biases, emotions, mental programming, ego, and many other personal filters.

          There are over 7 billion people on this planet, and so, there are over 7 billion different interpretations of reality. Each of us, in my opinion, are here for different purposes, to have different experiences, and to learn different lessons at different times. We're not all running off the same program or the same timeline. Your "opinion" applies to you.

          Please note that I happen to agree that your comment has merit. It does apply - in a varying degrees - to many people, it's the way you proclaim your "truth" as "the way it is for everyone" that is unfortunate.

          As I said in a previous post, sweeping generalizations will nearly always be met with resistance, and rightly so ... they're nearly always wrong.
          Dennis, I appreciate your thoughts, but wouldn't that mean that absolutely everything is merely an opinion? Like theory of gravity? I mean, it's just a theory, the best working one we've got right now...

          Same could be said for the black color being opposite of white. That's also just a widely accepted opinion then. Even if it can be backed up with proof, we still can't be certain whether our reality is just a dream, and if we can't prove that, it all falls in the water, doesn't it?

          So basically, every one of us should put the ", I think." suffix at the end of every statement we make, I think.

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          • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
            Originally Posted by zannix View Post

            Dennis, I appreciate your thoughts, but wouldn't that mean that absolutely everything is merely an opinion? Like theory of gravity? I mean, it's just a theory, the best working one we've got right now...

            Same could be said for the black color being opposite of white. That's also just a widely accepted opinion then. Even if it can be backed up with proof, we still can't be certain whether our reality is just a dream, and if we can't prove that, it all falls in the water, doesn't it?

            So basically, every one of us should put the ", I think." suffix at the end of every statement we make, I think.

            I like your sense of humor.

            I don't see that as the same thing. Gravity is a well-established scientific principle. What it does is well-known and predictable. It's not subject to the merry-go-round of emotions and whims of the ego.

            As far saying "I think" all the time, not necessary. Just choose words that aren't couched in absolutes (e.g. - many people instead of everyone, many times instead of every time, etc.).

            I hope you don't think I was picking on you. I usually let things like I pointed out go without comment. But once in a while, I think I see some potential in a person and flatter myself a little by thinking I might have something to say that gives them a broader view.

            You'll have to forgive an old man this little bit of indulgence. I just thought you seemed like a person who would appreciate and perhaps benefit from another viewpoint.

            Peace.
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            • Profile picture of the author zannix
              Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

              I like your sense of humor.

              I don't see that as the same thing. Gravity is a well-established scientific principle. What it does is well-known and predictable. It's not subject to the merry-go-round of emotions and whims of the ego.

              As far saying "I think" all the time, not necessary. Just choose words that aren't couched in absolutes (e.g. - many people instead of everyone, many times instead of every time, etc.).

              I hope you don't think I was picking on you. I usually let things like I pointed out go without comment. But once in a while, I think I see some potential in a person and flatter myself a little by thinking I might have something to say that gives them a broader view.

              You'll have to forgive an old man this little bit of indulgence. I just thought you seemed like a person who would appreciate and perhaps benefit from another viewpoint.

              Peace.
              I like your comments man, your viewpoint is a little different than mine and I am sure many people find it just as plausible. And don't worry, I've always appreciated people who have something fresh to add to the conversation
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  • Profile picture of the author Chinedu Mmaduebo
    Originally Posted by zannix View Post

    I recently came across an interesting article online which published a scientific research where they meassured the difference in levels of stress and frustration among rich and average speciments of the population.

    The results were mind boggling, at least for me:



    Wow... think about that. Most unhappy people keep chasing that almighty dollar in hope that they will be happier once they're "rich". Now, this is scientifically proven to be 100% incorrect.

    If you're an average person, you've got average problems (mostly money related issues for us low and middle class), and that brings you a certain amount of stress and frustration. If you're rich, you've got plenty of money, but you may be bored, insecure or paranoid about your money, which is just as bad.

    Face it, your life won't get any better than it currently is. You really do have to find happiness in the present moment, or you're f%cked (excuse the expression). You have to develop that skill, the ability to be grateful for what you've already got, because more stuff is just not going to do it for you.

    You have to learn to master your own emotional states!

    Start now, the sooner you learn to master your emotional states, the better. Money isn't going to help you do it. Money will give you comfort, but it will take away some other things in your life.

    I'm not saying money is bad, I'm just saying that if your goal is to lead a happy and fulfilled life, you're chasing the wrong thing. There's something else you should be chasing instead - emotional mastery.
    True Happiness can only be achieved not by making more money but by being able to use what you have to coordinate other variables in life. If i am asked to define happiness, i will view it as Happiness = Love+ Money + X where X could be Charity, Writing,Sports or whatever the individual in question need but money must be involved for you to get other people's products and services which he can not provide for himself.
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
      Above the poverty line, more money does not make you happier. Any rich person can tell you that but many people are under the delusion that more money equals more happiness. More money will buy you more stuff and more stuff creates additional problems that you will have to deal with. The trick to money is in having some, then learning how to simplify your life so you don't need so much of it, being grateful, finding real happiness by helping others... not in hoarding your wealth and living in fear of losing it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Make Money Ninja
    Totally true, i was watching Harvard lectures on positive psychology. Basically the guy said that once you earn over the poverty threshold, actual income increases dont really help your happiness.

    Sure successes give a spike in your base level of happiness but you drop down soon after that to your pre existing level of happiness.

    The key is to enjoy the process/journey and do something that you find meaningful and fulfilling
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  • Profile picture of the author cmbwealth
    I agree that money doesn't bring happiness, that does have to come from the inside, but it sure is nice to have the pressure off so you can go out and enjoy life.
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  • Profile picture of the author ProServices
    Wow Zannix....what an excellent thread and something we have all thought about. The answers are pure gold from fellow warriors.

    Balance is the key. The fact is we all need money to survive and pay bills but it shouldn't overtake your life. Our 'Purpose' one of the warriors was talking about is the key here. Someone might have enough coming in per month and their purpose might be to spend some time at an orphanage helping the kids. We've all seen millionaires who never smile or enjoy life and have no purpose.
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  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    I agree money will not make you happy, just to prove it please send all of your money to me @ itwontmakehappy.com this way you will be guaranteed eternal happiness while I will in turn drown myself in your sorrow ($bills).
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