People who make $150,000 per year are quite a bit happier than people who make $40,000, studies show.
But, researchers caution, this doesn’t mean that money buys happiness.
Several things could be at play:
1. It might be that happier people make more money, for a variety of reasons.
2. It might be that some factor is responsible for both money and happiness.
3. And it might be that indeed money does buy happiness.
Want to know more?
See this USA Today discussion of recent research.
Posted on Nov 26th 06 by ken winston caine.
Million-selling holistic-self-help author ken winston caine explores and shares "what works" from the frontiers of holistics, personal development, rapid therapy, and planetary healing. He has doctorates in holistic health and New Thought. http://www.mindbodyspiritjournal.com
Other posts on Coachamatic by ken winston caine.
Hi Ken–thanks for sharing this article.
This is definitely an interesting topic! I think that, although money can’t actually buy happiness, that having a certain amount of financial security makes it so that you can relax more and have less to worry about.
Feeling like you’re safe and secure also makes it easier to invest more of your energy in other people in a positive way, and then that also contributes to our own happiness. I agree with the article’s assertion that it’s the quality of a person’s relationships that has the biggest effect on his/her happiness.
I think likeability also goes along with it–”The Likeability Factor” by Tim Sanders asserts that happy, easy-going, emotionally involved folks are more likely to “get the job/client” and to also have higher paying salaries. (They also tend to live longer and have lower divorce rates.)
So, in a way, it looks like happy folks might have an edge with being financially successful.
Very interesting…Thanks!
Sharon