Lots of self-help people like to say that money isn’t everything, or money isn’t important. I can certainly see the point they’re making, and I’ll certainly agree that money isn’t everything. However, I will argue that money is important, and while it won’t guarantee anything, it will help a lot when it comes to happiness too.
The thing to remember is that, like many things, money is a tool, and how you use it will determine a lot. While money itself won’t make you happy, here are some things it will help provide that may help on the way to being happy: personal freedom, comfortable living, independence, and the ability to go out and do fun activities. Certainly, you don’t need money for any of these things, but it will make them all a lot easier to come by, as well as give you more options.
Of course, your goals will determine a lot, and you still need to have the right mindset. Sacrificing your life to earning money won’t make you any happier than you would be without the money, and might even make you worse off. But with the right balance between earning and enjoying yourself, it can be beneficial to getting the most out of life, and I think it’s positively silly when self-help people admonish us not to worry about the money.
Definitely think about other things, and certainly think about what you would do if you didn’t need to worry about money. Certainly even go ahead and do whatever you can of those things you would do without worrying about money. I completely agree with this part of the message. But saying it’s not important at all is ignoring the society we live in. Unless you can independently provide yourself with food, shelter, and the kind of entertainment you enjoy, you will need money at some point, and thinking about how to get it isn’t a bad thing. Obsessing over it might be harmful, such as looking to amass more and more money without understanding why you want it.
I’m currently in a low money situation, but I’m happy because I have enough to meet my needs, I have my friends, and I have my hobbies.
I also know I still want to earn more money, because it will be a way for me to improve my situation and that of those around me. I’m working on that part. Here are some reasons why having more money would be helpful:
-I could live on my own.
-I could help out friends who are having difficulty meeting their needs more often.
-I could afford some luxuries that I would enjoy, most specifically a Wii and a few games. This would also let me practice Super Smash Bros. Brawl more often and give me a chance to compete in any local tournament that comes up with a chance of winning.
-I wouldn’t have to watch my money when I want to go out with friends, and could just enjoy the night without thinking about every dollar I spend.
Now, none of these are necessary for my happiness. As I said, I’m quite happy as things are now. However, being able to do those things I listed would improve the quality of my life. In particular, living on my own would allow me to have guests whenever I wished, which makes it easier to have social gatherings, something I particularly enjoy. Once I’ve figured out a good way to earn money for myself, I can also help my friends do the same as well, and help get them to the point where they can meet all their needs.
The point is, I know what the money will actually do for me. It would provide me with more independence, a few luxuries I would like, the ability to help out more often, and fewer things to worry about. So I’m not just mindlessly seeking it, and I think that’s the trick. You need to know what money can do for you, and what you need to do for yourself in other ways. Money won’t give you confidence or self-esteem, at least not beyond a certain level. It won’t provide you with true friends, though it might give you the time and freedom to pursue more friendships.
Now, obviously, having money doesn’t ensure happiness, and lack of money doesn’t insure a lack of happiness. But I’m willing to bet that meeting your needs and living comfortably and independently is a good first step for anyone.
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Tags: freedom, independence, Money