As we get wealthier, do we get happier?
By mari123
@mari123 (1861)
China
September 21, 2007 10:08am CST
Since life for most is no longer a daily struggle for basic necessities to meet physical needs, topics of public discourse are beginning to touch on aspects of life we have seldom addressed before.
Most, if not all, Chinese are financially better off thanks to 28 years of reform and opening up. But are we any happier?
Various surveys and rankings attempt to answer this question. But each survey reveals a worrisome fact that a sizable portion, 10 per cent at the lowest, of respondents were not content with their lives or not hopeful about the future.We cannot be content with the fact that at least 130 million of our countrymen are not happy.
For most of us, except the extremely rich and naturally born optimists, there simply are too many variables that may kill the feeling of happiness.These include, but are not limited to, rising housing prices, tight and instable job market, back-breaking schooling expenses and medical bills.
How can you feel happy when you always have to brace yourself for the unexpected?It is time the government displayed similar creativity and resolve to address a much larger sense of uncertainty.
3 people like this
23 responses
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
22 Sep 07
Although money can't buy many things, such as health, love and so on. However, with money will give you an easier life pressure. Many people want to be rich and I think there will be some reasons. So I think we will be happier when we are richer.
@ajayrekha (491)
• India
22 Sep 07
Definately NOT. But if we get a good peaceful life along with some good money flow then definately YES.
1 person likes this
@meemingNEW (2226)
• Philippines
22 Sep 07
I don't think so. I mean, people struggle just to get a good future, to become wealthy and die rich. But that doesn't mean that if you can buy all the material possessions in the world means that you are already happy. Maybe for some.. But I don't think I will be. My family is somewhat in the upper middle class meaning we can afford our basic necessities in life and even buy some expensive things.. With what I have experienced and felt, money or material possessions can't really make me happy. And I think that if I get wealthier, it will be such a blessing but with all that money, life won't be that exciting any more. People struggle to get money, and now if you have lots of it.. what do we have to struggle for anyhow?
1 person likes this
@maybebaby (1230)
• Canada
22 Sep 07
I think that alot of people equate money with happiness and I don't think the two things go hand in hand. Even if you have all the money in the world, it isn't going to matter if you don't have anyone that loves you. Money isn't going to buy love and friendship. It'll attract greed sn fair weather friends. I think if you aren't happy in the life that you have money isn't neccessrily going to help. You may have less to worry about financaily but possibly more socially.
@lzqrain (53)
• China
22 Sep 07
The feeling of happy not only depending on how rich you are.It's also depending on how many friends your have and your family and so on .A lot of people are not very rich,but they have a lot of friends and they feel their life is happy too.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
22 Sep 07
Not really, but I would just like to have enough money to pay off my bills and get out of debt for a long time.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
22 Sep 07
Not all people get happier when they get wealthier. I am still poor, but I think that I feel happy because I think that we are content with the present life and work, there is no reason to feel less happy. Of course, the government needs to do more for its people though great progress has been achieved. Still there is a lot for the government to help improve the living standard of its people, like the high price for an apartment that keeps growing and growing. Also the food price since this summer has never seemed to have the trend to go down. I think that something needs to be done more effectively by the government to make its people live more comfortable with a more harmonious society that the government is talking about orally. We need to see it more practical in our life.
1 person likes this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Some of the most miserable people I have met are well-off. Happiness is a state of mind. They are people who can be happy with just a box to live in. And then, there are those who it does not matter where they are, deep down they are always miserable. If you can't be happy while poor, then you are not going to be happy when you are rich. And with the added stress of seeking the happy buck, I am betting a lot less happy.
1 person likes this
@spiderlizard22 (3444)
• United States
22 Sep 07
You can have all the money in the world and still not be happy. I say happy is a reaction not a choice. Do you agree with me? I don't think anybody can become happy at will. Its not like when actors can shed a tear at will. No it is perception. If you saw a picture of a sad clown with a five o'clock shadow how would you respond. People respond differently to that picture. Some will be sad for the clown others will be happy because the clown is sad. Some will not be effected by the picture at all. That is just an example. I wonder if typing alot will help me earn more money in mylot. Tell me what you think.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
21 Sep 07
Hello there. With more wealth, usually comes more stress. Rich people tends to have high expectations of life (ie. big houses and cars). Being humans, we tend to be greedy and we are always not satisfied with what we already have. When we have something, we always want more. The only way to be happy is to be thankful for what you already have and count our blessings everyday. I guess the reason why some rich people are not happy is because even though they are rich, they felt emptiness in their life. Warren buffet is one classic example. He is a very rich man. But for a period of time, he was not happy. He found happiness after he donated his money to the trust.
1 person likes this
@megumiart (3771)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I don't think we're any happier, everything whether it's wealth or poverty has problems that come with it. I think it depends on the person/people and how they use their lives, for the amount of happiness they get.
1 person likes this
@meaculpa (338)
• Philippines
21 Sep 07
As one gets wealthier, one gets happier with attached responsibilities and worries of the following:
1. Where to put the financial resources - investments, savings
2. Security - is the place safe?
Happiness is not based on wealth but knowing what you really want in life, setting goals and achieving those, having an ideal family wherein you can share your being you.
@jasnhelsinki (69)
• Finland
22 Sep 07
In my opinion, money is necessary, yet not sufficient for happiness.
When one is working all the time just to earn his bread and butter, he would normally think if he could be wealthier, he would be happier. "Ah, now i dont need to work so hard just to make a living, and finally i could release myself from work and go travelling around the world...". However when he becomes weathier, he still has other worries, e.g. security, pressure etc.
Happiness is mostly depends on attitude. But money plays also an important role in it.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
22 Sep 07
i don't think that somebody's happiness depend on his/her wealth... rather, i think it depends on the individuals... how they make use life to the fullest and their view about life... there are many poor people but they are happy and can enjoy their lives... at the same time, there are many rich people that can't enjoy their lives because they don't know how to enjoy lives...
@luzamper (1357)
• Philippines
2 Oct 07
Money answers everything in the world but it does not necessarily mean that if we have money we are happy always. It is money which sometimes gives us problems. We always lack money, though how much do we have because we always aspire and aspire for more. Many people have no satisfaction. To be happy with what money we have, we should learn how to be contented with whatever we have.
@unuzzz (1273)
• Indonesia
22 Sep 07
hi mari123
i always have a thought,
wealth is a gate to happiness
but wealth is not a way to keep that happiness
many people i know was used to be poor but happy,
and today they become rich but keep the happiness kept before
i think it depends on each person conviction
if they realize which things to be treasured, i believed everyone will have their happiness on their hand
thanks ^^
@saunty (604)
• India
22 Sep 07
being welathier is undoubtedly a dream of everyperson in this world , because money is something which can only give you with all the luxury you want in your life...but all these worldly possesions can not always give u happiness, happiness is the state of mind when from all sides of your life youare completely satisfied.....so i dont think being wealthier can make u happier too...
@ssf12ster (488)
• India
22 Sep 07
yes only for a short time or during lifetime only.then there will be no fun.yes we are all not content in our lives.its good to amke u feel happy.u think about how u tried so hard all these days and now here is your dream come true.surprised at them if they do such good things
@christineli (525)
• Philippines
22 Sep 07
No. What happens if you become sick in trying to get wealthy? There's no happiness in that. Money is not everything. Happiness is a combination of two or more of the following: money, health, love, friends and family, life's purpose and achievements, vanity, etc...
