Unraveling the True Meaning of Happiness

What is happiness? This noun has infinite connotations. However, according to the Dictionary, the denotative meaning of the word happy is delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing. One may perceive happiness through family events and personal experiences,. wWhereas others may consider their job as a source of pleasure. While still, someothers might say that money gives them power and satisfaction. Ultimately, money is not in any way correlated to happiness, and will not buy happiness. There are several physiological factors which make one happy besides money. There is an explicit difference between materialism and happiness. Materialistic people most likely believe that buying more makes them happy, whereas happiness relates

But “[when one’s] basic necessities are met, research has shown that additional money does not have a lot to do with happiness.” Owning large quantities of money doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be happy. Money is not the only thing that can make one content. Having other hobbies and challenges makes one equally happy. Some may be satisfied with money, but it will be spent on materialistic things that is not useful for the overall long term benefit of one in the future. One should be focused on more important factors that makes them happy, including relationships, pleasurable activities, and kindness to others. Kindness can be shown by spending money on others, to assist their life and enjoyment. According to the Zurich university, there was a study who surveyed a group of fifty people testing one’s level of happiness based on the action they perform. Twenty-five people were asked to share their earnings with others and be generous and the other group of twenty-five people spent all of their money by themselves without sharing. Levels of happiness was measured on a subjective scale and people who were generous boosted their

This could lead to dissatisfaction, or uncontentment of a person. From the blog, Why Money Can’t Buy Happiness, by Carl Nassar, he states that, “ There will always be someone with a higher salary or something that is just out of your financial reach. The income level that used to make you happy will no longer be enough for you” (Nassar). This proves that one will always be earning money and being happy with it. However, when one continues to earn more money, it just will not be enough for them and they will start craving for more. This will eventually lead to greed and that person would not be grateful for anything that they have and will just want more. That will also bring down the time that you have to spend with your family, which will sever family relationships and limit one’s time to have fun and enjoy themselves while on leave. One may even take a job that they disliked just to get paid more and eventually lead to problems in the job, thus fired. Nassar also mentioned that, “ Since [connection], community, and sense of purpose are important parts of overall happiness, it isn’t worth sacrificing your time or doing a job you don’t enjoy just for money. Eventually you will become burnt out and even less happy.” This proves the fact that relationships with others and connectivity is more important than money and to spend time on things that matter more.