Money doesn’t buy happiness
We all have heard the cliche phrase - “Money doesn’t buy happiness”, or variations on that phrase. I wanted to share my thoughts on that phrase. I must say that, from my experience, that phrase has been true. If you think of some of the happiest moments in your life, how often is it something that is intangible - Good times with friends, being close to loved ones, one’s pets, or the magical experiences of traveling somewhere. While there is no doubt that money is an important aspect of making some or all of these experiences more enjoyable (For example, traveling does require some money), for the most part I have found that the most memorable moments were the ones that, as the credit card commercials states, “money can’t buy”.
I have seen people who have had it all, so to speak. Despite their vast amounts of wealth, some of these people weren’t overall happy with life. They seemed to be in a constant race of attaining more wealth, never truly satisifed with what they had. This observation lead me to decide that, above all else, one should be grateful and fortunate for what one does have on a daily basis. This is not to say that you should not strive to attain goals and dreams of becoming financially independent. On the contrary, it makes the attainment of this eventual goal all the more pleasant. It isn’t the destination, but the journey. How will each of us make this journey to financial independence? Will we try to take shortcuts, cheat, and use unethical means? Or will we strive to be the best person we can be, creating positive growth in our lives and in our careers or businesses?
I recently read a very insightful article by Steve Pavlina titled “Career Responsibility“. In this article, Steve writes, “When choosing a company to work for, to partner with, or even to patronize as a customer, take a moment to consider the values you’re supporting and the long-term consequences of those values.” I find a great deal of wisdom in this article and in that sentence in particular. Each of us creates our destiny, and ultimately are responsible for our actions. I for one want to be proud of my achievements when I attain the eventual goal of financial independence. When I have achieved my goal, I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror and say to myself, “You did it - Not by standing on the backs of other people, but by pursuing your dream while at the same time creating something of benefit for the world.”