Can money buy happiness?

January 18, 2010 by admin

It’s an adage question and it doesn’t have a direct answer. I can tell you this – money CAN’T buy happiness but money does influence someone’s happiness, a lot too.

I know a lot of people who are not rich and they’re still happy. At the same time, I also know a lot of friends who are rich and are happy too.

And here’s the ultimate kicker – I definitely have more friends who are rich and happy than not rich and happy.

You don’t *really* need money to be happy but with money in your hand to spend wisely, you can surely attain happiness quicker and perhaps, easier too.

You see, the REAL secret to happiness is by making others happy and feel fulfilled in return. Why do you think there are people who do charity by donating their money? Self-fulfillment.

If you have a wonderful wife who is loving and caring, wouldn’t it be a happier relationship if you can shower her with more gifts that money can buy?

Or if you have a beautiful kid, wouldn’t it be great if you can take your child to places he/she likes to visit?

If you read this and you feel like I’m a jerk to say money brings happiness or you’re about to disagree, stop reading because I’m not here to point out who’s right or wrong. But I think I can say this - if someone feels uncomfortable with what he reads here, then he’s just avoiding reality and reality always bites. Who likes to be ‘bite’? I rest my case.

What most people are unaware is at the subconscious level, they are letting this believe to sip into their mind and it became the excuse for them not to be wealthy.

To be wealthy, there’s a lot of work. And I’m not saying this because it’s my believe system or something – no. Go ahead and ask any millionaires how they became millionaires and I’m pretty confident that they’ll tell you that they’ve gone through certain levels of challenges.

Imagine this - if you embed the thought that money is not important for your happiness, do you think you’ll still work hard to be rich? Not anymore.

And these are the people who would say these sentences to you…

“Why work so hard?”

“Money is the root of all evil.”

“You’ll attract problems with your money.”

“You won’t have true friends if you’re rich.”

I’ve interviewed many millionaires and some of the most successful people in the world for my Success Trace Membership – Mark Victor Hansen, Bill Bartmann, Jerry Clark, Robert Allen, Christopher Guerriero, Ted Nicholas and many more… and guess what? They seem to have a lot of true friends and have strong feeling of happiness within them.

So after this explanation about money and it’s relation to happiness, I’ll tell you this - money will help you gain happiness when you’re attracting and using it correctly.

Ask any rich people - are they happier today or when they’re broke? Some will say when they don’t have money and this will be the small group of people who attract and use money wrongly, that’s all.

As a matter of fact, the topic of money is such a sensitive topic, that there are people who avoid discussing about it - embarrass to be misunderstood of being ‘chasing money’ and rejected from the society. If you’re not excited about getting rich, how would you attract it in the first place?

At the same time, I was asked an interesting question from an attendee when I was doing a workshop, MSIInAFlash.com, with Robert Allen, someone who I highly admire and respect, a real guru about creating wealth…

“You’re already so rich and successful. If I were you, I would have taught people for free.”

I honestly think he’s not rich yet and don’t really understand the mechanism or money and wealth yet, not in any negative intention.

I wanted to ask him this question in return…

“Why do you think doctors charge fee for their consultation? Or why do think lecturers, fitness trainers, fashion designers and professors should be paid then?”

The doctors, lecturers, fashion designers, fitness trainers and professors should be paid because they’ve risk their own time and money to be able to help other people. They’re ALREADY doing a favor to charge you and me for imparting their knowledge, experience and wisdom.

Imagine if they have the same thought like the worksho attendee, that they should be taught for free as well - that they should not spend tens of thousands or years to learn their trade. Imagine how this world would actually perform today. Weird, right? :-)

If you want to be rich, focus on being rich. Stop questioning what you don’t like because it’ll not change anything if it’s not within your control.

The way how you view the World will ultimately be your world.

So do you want happiness or money?

My answer: both because you’re living in a world of abundance where you can ‘and’, not ‘or’.

If you like what you’ve read for “Can money buy happiness?”, I look forward to hear from you. Just leave your feedback or message in the Comments below and I’ll personally read it.

To your success,

Patric Chan
Founder, SuccessTrace.com


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