Many of us believe that happiness cannot be bought with money. At the same time, there are a large number of people today who believe that money plays a very important role in being happy. Do you believe that one cannot be happy without money? You must have seen people who do not have much money, yet they are happy. At the same time, there are many people who are rich and have a lot of material comforts. Despite this, they are not happy and are living under stress.
Does money bring happiness?
The definition of happiness can be different for everyone. Some people associate happiness with their safety and well-being. Many people associate it with their family, friends or other important things.
One thing becomes clear when we think deeply on this subject that happiness does not always depend on external things. Happiness depends on our emotional and mental situation. Although money may not keep us happy, it can save us from many problems in today’s time.
Does increasing income increase happiness?
This question often comes to our mind whether increasing income leads to happiness? Or can a lot of money make us happier? According to a research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the year 2021, there is a direct relationship between income and happiness. The study, which included more than 33,000 people, found that people who earn more generally feel happier and are more satisfied with their lives.
Mental stress due to lack of money
Along with understanding the importance of money, it is also important to see what effect it has on the mentality of low-income people. When a person goes through financial problems, it has a deep impact on his mental state. Poverty not only increases physical fatigue and mental stress, but it also forces people to struggle for basic needs many times. In such a situation, a person is seen struggling for food, clothes and shelter.
Poverty does not only mean financial crisis, but it also creates social and mental pressure. If a family member is ill and is unable to get treatment due to lack of money, then in such a situation the family members may get stressed. Also, the patient’s condition may worsen due to stress.
More money, more stress?
It is often believed that more money makes life easier, but people with higher incomes can also have more stress. The responsibilities and stress that come with more money affect mental health. This stress sometimes takes away your happiness.
Money can buy you luxuries like nice vacations, expensive restaurants, and a luxurious life, but if you get so busy with work that you don’t get time for your family, friends, or yourself, these luxuries can fade away.
This is the reason why people earning more money are sometimes not able to enjoy those little moments of happiness with their family. Whereas people with less income can easily spend happy moments with their family and loved ones.
Is this all just a mental state?
It is true that happiness cannot be bought with money and we can achieve happiness even without money. We need to understand that happiness does not always depend on external things, but it also depends on our thinking. If we don’t associate money and things with our identity, we can find happiness in things that money cannot buy. This could include time spent with loved ones, talking to ourselves, helping someone or doing something for the betterment of society.
This does not mean that money has no value or that its importance has ended. We can fulfill our needs with money. Along with this, we can experience pleasure with money, which can give us happiness. However, our own positive experiences of relationships, love, and satisfaction are the real happiness. We need to understand that happiness does not depend only on external things, but it also depends on our internal state and mindset.
