Happiness and the Almighty Dollar

Happiness And The Almighty Dollar

Happiness: this personal value has been pursued by almost all of us. People find

themselves searching and looking for some answers or hints that will lead them to their personal

pursuit of happiness. But, what is the true definition of happiness? What are the odds that you

need to go through in order to attain the true state of happiness? What if this happiness of an

individual interferes with others happiness? A lot of people find their happiness in so much

different things or experiences. The question is how are we going to attain these certain types of

happiness? Is it for emotional purposes? Material things’ that make people satisfied in their need

to be fit in the society? Or experiences that no monetary value can sum up to the moment that we

spend with our love ones? This generation that we are currently living, we find happiness in the

help of one source, “Money.” Many people cannot see the value of money in connection with

their happiness. The question is, are they just playing blind to see the essential value of money in

exchange of their happiness? Or they just refusing to admit that it is in fact a necessity for people

attaining their source of happiness? This paper will identify the sources of people’s happiness

and consider the value of money in connection to their happiness or at least find their way to a

right path towards their happiness that they are pursuing in the help of the almighty dollar.

Baldono 2

To acquire happiness, one must first identify what keeps them happy, particularly in their work. ​According to Arthur C. Brooks, a social scientist, in his article “ A Formula For Happiness,” happiness can be pursued by self and it can also be shared by some means. He states that “​You can measure your earned success in any currency you choose. You can count it in dollars, sure or in kids taught to read, habitats protected or souls saved’’(Brooks)​. He describes that we are all responsible in pursuit of our own happiness in life no matter the ways

we choose it to be. Individuals need to decide how they measure their own satisfaction. At the same time, he also states that “​When I taught graduate students, I noticed that social entrepreneurs who pursued nonprofit careers were some of my happiest graduates. They made

less money than many of their classmates, but were no less certain that they were earning their success. They defined that success in non-monetary terms and delighted in it”(Brooks)​. This explanation clearly shows that a person’s happiness can be shared for the benefit of others as for

some people that worked hard to attain a certain level of their career and dedicate their lives to

share the happiness they sought. For example, a teacher may not make the largest paycheck, but

they may feel accomplished in influencing others life, which can bring them happiness.

However, people searching for ways to earn money to provide their own perspective of

happiness is an acceptable fact and they embraced the meaning that money can be connected in

pursuit of their happiness.

Money is one of the main contributor to a person’s happiness. Yes, there are a ton of

assistance available out there to comfort a person’s happiness. But, people still need to spend their own money and savings to help them with their daily life. ​According to Elizabeth Landau of CNN,in her article “​Why Happiness is Healthy,” she states that “More money does not

Baldono 3

necessarily buy more happiness, but less money is associated with emotional pain​” (Landau). She explains that, having money does not necessarily mean that it contributes automatically to a

person’s happiness in life but it balances the emotional status of having more and having less,

meaning that if you have less money, a little more money than what you have can make you more happier than your current financial status. She also states that “​Would you be happier if you bought the car you always wanted? Several studies suggest experiences make us happier

than possessions. That's partly because once you have purchased something, such as a new car,

you get used to seeing it every day and the initial joy fades, experts say. But you can continue to derive happiness from memories of experiences over time. ​’’ (Landau). This statement clearly shows that a person’s happiness are continuously changing over time, that as we move along in

our life, happiness takes its course and change it ways to pursue it, eventually. But, the

experience connected to your purchased item will contribute to your current happiness and that

experience you felt the moment you bought the things you like will stay with you and the feeling

will not change. In the end, monetary assistance will truly give a helping hand in order for us to

attain a certain amount of happiness in our lives no matter how big or small it may be.

Social Experiments prove that money is essential source in pursuing happiness. Conforming to the writings of Russ Wiles, a reporter of business and financial section of ​The Arizona Republic

​ , wrote the article “​Key To Money Happiness May Be In How You Spend It.” According to Wiles,a person’s financial stability contributes to its level of happiness and life and those below it more likely to have a lesser level of happiness.​ He states that “This seems consistent with a Princeton University study in 2010 that found emotional well-being rises as

...