You hear a lot of people say “Money cannot buy happiness.” While that is true to a point, there is something to be said for money as a tool to happiness. Hoarding money and the love of money for the sake of money can very well lead to unhappiness. Having financial security and even some to give and contribute to causes we believe in is a kind of happiness that can also give us some inner peace. So while money itself cannot buy you happiness, it can be used as a tool to add joy to your life and the lives of those you care about. You cannot go to a store, or any guru you may follow, with a large amount of money and say, “I would like to buy some happiness.” The way you choose to spend your money, however, can determine whether you are buying happiness or just things.
Take a look at what we spend money on. Will it bring us joy? For how long? A new car certainly can bring us a good amount of joy. It can make getting places a lot more stress free. It can have wonderful features for keeping us warm or cool, depending on our needs. If we feel the gratitude for that vehicle, it will bring us even more joy. Even a brand new car is a depreciating asset. Sooner or later, a new car becomes an old car. Then it may even take joy from us. The same can be said about most material things in life.
One of the more powerful things to spend money on that will lead to happiness is creating memories with those you love. Above is a collection of pictures that Margie and I took while on vacations. Although they are a good deal of money, of which I was grateful to afford, the memories bring us joy to this very day. It doesn’t have to be as grand as a tropical vacation. There are trips to the local State Fair with my mother that I recall. Once we just had iced coffee and sat in the sun enjoying a band. It was a great time and one that brings joy to this day. Whether it involves travel or just an experience, creating memories is a way that money can buy happiness. Yes, you can create memories without spending money, but today we are discussing ways in which you can use cash to create happiness.
Even more powerful at bringing joy into your life than a tropical vacation (wait did I just say that?) is the act of giving. I’m not advocating that you give away all of your money and live on the street, unless that is your jam, but hear me out. How can giving your hard earned money away make you happy? Seems a little counter intuitive. That is until you try it. From the simple giving a large tip to a server who deserves it or may be struggling, to the more elaborate sponsoring a wing at a children’s hospital, giving provides one of the largest sources of joy. When you give to a cause and see the good they do first hand, that brings you joy. As an author, I often like to give my books away to people who can use them. Yes, it costs money, but knowing I could have a positive impact in their life brings more joy than the profit I would make selling the book. Buying a friend a cup of coffee and letting them know you appreciate them will bring joy to your heart. One of my favorite examples is truly listening to someone and giving them a gift you know would make their heart soar. The money spent on the gift is nothing compared to the joy you receive by seeing their happiness.
Can you get happiness without money? Of course you can. Some of the best things money cannot buy. Still, money allows us to bring happiness into our lives if we use it as the tool it was meant to be. Ask yourself how can you use the money in your life, be it little or much, to bring a little more joy into your life and the lives of those you care about? I would love to hear some of your ideas!
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 