It is more important to be happier than to be richer in life. Why? A short example will help you understand. Suppose you earn $9,000 a year. You will hardly be able to make ends meet, and there’s pressure to feed your family better. This drives you to work harder, and you end up earning $20,000 next year. Now, you have a better standard of living; a car, a house, and enough money to afford medical bills. But you are not satisfied with what you have. It is almost like you are striving for more money without considering what you are slowly losing out on.
Making money is fine, but it never substitutes for the time you lose
Houses and cars become more luxurious as your income grows, but your hard work doesn’t necessarily increase in the same progressive ratio. You tend to look for shortcuts just like how crypto traders would find more information by looking at trading indicators to help them execute profitable trades. As these shortcuts appear to be the ladder to success, you start to notice that although you make more money, you don’t get enough time with the people you love.
With all the technology and money around, do you feel that the money is worth earning when you can’t spend time with your family or friends? Do you not miss the small things in life that made you happy? Maybe a sulking afternoon in the backyard playing with your kids, going fishing with your grandfather, surprising your pregnant wife with her favorite scoop of ice-cream; the list is endless. Making money is important, but it does not qualify for the smaller things in life that makes a person happy.
Experience is primary; money, secondary
The secret to a happier life is to become more experienced in the field that you are passionate about. Of course, no one is saying that you should work for free. But it shouldn’t always be the primary objective. For example, if you are passionate about photography, it doesn’t mean you need to open a website and start promoting yourself as a professional photographer because you have the right tools of the trade. Gaining practical experience is far more essential than thinking about quick money.
Personal satisfaction keeps you healthier
A healthy mind makes for a healthy heart. If you want to have a healthy mind, you should pay more importance to personal satisfaction. What is it that genuinely makes you happy? Is it spending time with your family? Is it volunteering in some community service? Or traveling perhaps?
Another secret to a happier life is understanding your happiness quotient. Buying a car or a penthouse is a materialistic happiness. It is undoubtedly a part of personal satisfaction, but it is not something that you would do now and then to keep your mind fresh.
The moment you crack the code about differentiating materialistic happiness from selfless joy, you will notice that you are not running after money, but for a happier life that involves your friends, family, and everyone you care about. That’s the life everyone should be striving for; that’s the life that will keep you physically and mentally happy.