Kenney's Study: High Incomes Don T Buy Happiness

As Walt Disney once said, “Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.” Walt Disney is one of the best known founders for a motion - picture production company. This infamous and plausible man is among the many who support the claim that happiness can be achieved in an assortment of ways by contenting both adults and children. Maanvi Singh’s , “You Can Buy Happiness, If It’s An Experience,” Caitlin Kenney’s “Study: ‘High Incomes Don’t Bring You Happiness’” and ABC News’ “Can We Cultivate Our Own Happiness?” assert how one can achieve happiness. Genuine happiness can only be attained if one truly accepts what their lives present them with. Even though several beliefs claim that money is the key to stimulating

happiness, it is evident that there are other factors that contribute to the sheer bliss that one can encounter, such as one’s own experiences and acceptance of one’s genuine self.
To begin with, one’s true happiness can be acquired through one’s own experiences.

According to Maanvi Singh’s, “You Can’t Buy Happiness, If It’s An Experience”, “A growing body of research has shown that experiences tend to make people happier than material possessions...But they tended to feel more positive about experiential purchases, and their feelings about material purchases were more likely to be tinged with feelings of impatience” (Singh 2-4). One’s own adventures can generate the feeling of satisfaction and gratification within oneself, allowing a person to be truly pleased with life. A person should always give importance to their own experiences and accomplishments. Memories should be treasured by a person as they are unforgettable and things that cannot fade away. To sum it all up, touching upon one’s memories and intriguing background can make a person truly

content.
In addition, by embracing one’s self, one can find genuine ecstasy. ABC News’ “Can We Cultivate Our Own Happiness?” explicitly states, “Instead, he says we can boost our own happiness by capitalizing on the strengths and traits that we already have, including kindness, originality, humor, optimism, and generosity” (ABC News 3). An individual should not cower in shame about their strengths and traits. They should be valued and acknowledged. By doing this, a person can be truly be content and proud. To achieve happiness, one must first recognize who they truly are and embrace it. Instead of following the ethical standards of others, one should be able to cultivate and achieve their own happiness by accepting themselves.
Lastly, many articles articulate that happiness cannot be achieved just by having an ample amount of money.

The article “High Incomes Don’t Bring You Happiness” verbatimly states, “Beyond $75,000, money is important for life evaluation, but does nothing for happiness, enjoyment, sadness, or stress” (Kenney 4). Those who spend prodigal amounts of money disdain plebeians because they claim that money is the foundation to living a great life. However, money only helps one meet certain needs and does not contribute in instigating true happiness within oneself. Happiness comes naturally by one’s actions and accomplishments. Although, money helps buy the commodities which satisfy one’s life, it is not the direct source for obtaining glee within a

person.
To conclude, while many beliefs claim that money is the key to gaining happiness, it is clear that there are other components that contribute to the joy that one can encounter, such as an individual's adventures and acknowledgement of one’s genuine self. Maanvi Singh’s, “You Can Buy Happiness, If It’s An Experience,” Caitlin Kenney’s “Study: ‘High Incomes Don’t Bring You Happiness’” and ABC News’ “Can We Cultivate Our Own Happiness?” emphasize how one can attain happiness. Contentment can only be acquired if one truly accepts what their lives offer them. Although Walt Disney was a facetious man, his claim about happiness is perceived by many other advocates who support that joy can be obtained in various ways. Even though happiness is a word of many definitions, “it’s just according to the way you look at things.”