Money and Happiness
Julie Murphy • January 6, 2021
Does money buy happiness? Experts will tell you “no, of course not,” but according to a new survey, 90 percent of the top 1 percent of U.S. household income earners—those who earn $500,000 per year or more—claim to be “completely” or “very” satisfied with their lives overall.
If money doesn’t buy happiness, then what’s going on here?
The Difference Between Wealth and REAL WEALTH
The 1 percent that are completely or highly satisfied with their lives are embodying what I call “living in a state of REAL WEALTH” rather than just a state of monetary wealth. Monetary wealth is unsustainable in terms of supplying happiness since it relies entirely on external factors to provide fulfillment. REAL WEALTH is deeply satisfying since it goes much deeper than that.
Real wealth has nothing to do with how much income or assets you have, but rather it’s a state of being. Real wealth is about your lifestyle, perspective, mindset, and ensuring that all of these things are in alignment with who you truly are and what you deeply want. If you love your job, accept reality, and are able to be your authentic self in all that you do, then you’re embracing a life of REAL WEALTH.
People who don’t have a lot of money or assets tend to believe that if they had more of these external things, they would be happier. In my experience, however, this never happens. Money can’t provide happiness since what people are yearning for is to feel whole and fulfilled internally. And nothing external will ever satisfy these kinds of needs and desires.
That has to come from within.
How to Achieve Real Wealth and Happiness
So, 90 percent of the 1 percent are completely or highly satisfied with their lives. That’s a huge number when compared to the 66 percent of middle-income households—classified by those earning $35,000 to $99,000 per year—and the 44 percent of low-income households—which are classified as those earning less than $35,000 per year. I would say that the level of satisfaction in these people’s lives isn’t dependent on the money they make but rather on how aligned they are with themselves and their desires.
People who find success do so by practicing extreme self love and self care, working towards what they deeply want that’s in alignment with their soul.
If you’re seeking happiness, don’t chase after external attractions. You’ll only distract yourself and miss out on your amazing potential. Instead, listen to what you deeply want and need in order to raise your vibration to attract more REAL wealth into your life.
Referenced link:
https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2019/12/life-experiences-and-income-inequality-in-the-united-states.html
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