Once more, another year has gone by. In every New Year, nearly every person looks forward to a more prosperous, happier year. Some learn lessons from the misfortunes and trials of the past year; others simply do as they have always done without so much as drawing any learning from the past. And so they go on with their lives looking for happiness where most people think it might be found—in material possessions and in financial prosperity. Thus, as people usher in the New Year, they cling to superstitions that promise abundance and riches such as putting grapes on doors and windows, collecting round fruits and laying them on the dining table. Round fruits are said to symbolize and attract money. People continue to splurge on firecrackers and fireworks, no matter the risks to their limb, in the belief that these will drive away bad fortune and bring in good luck.
Few ask themselves what happiness really means and what they can do to be truly happier. Do wealth and money really make one happier? Economist Justin Wolfers who has done an extensive study on the subject said that we should not let an economist bully us into believing that money’s all that matters and neither should we let a psychologist bully us into believing that money is completely unimportant. While it is true, as studies have shown, that richer people are generally more satisfied with life than the poorer ones, this does not mean either that the more money one has, the happier one is. An often-quoted study says that money does buy happiness but only up to a certain extent. The study adds, after one earns an income of US$75,000.00 or roughly P3,375,000.00 annually, increasing one’s income will not make one any happier. The world’s richest man, Bill Gates, said in a talk at the University of Washington that after making one million dollars, a hamburger—no matter the cost—is still a hamburger, meaning, beyond a certain point, it all tastes the same.
A person with a beautiful house will not be any happier with buying more beautiful houses which will remain empty most times and one who has enough cars for his needs will not increase his happiness by acquiring more. What can make one truly happier, then?
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, gives some tips for greater joy in one’s life. First, he says, live and let live. Move forward and let others do the same. This means forgiving and forgetting offenses and slights committed against you and moving on. Second, be giving of yourself to others. If you withdraw into yourself, the Pope said, you become egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.
Third, proceed calmly in life. Pope Francis says that in his youth, he was a steam full of rocks; as an adult, he was a rushing river. In old age, however, he is like a pool of water with the ability to move with kindness and humility—a calmness in life.
Fourth, one must have a healthy sense of leisure. Pope Francis said that consumerism has brought people anxiety and stress, removing them from the pleasures of art, literature, and even playing with children. People must learn to turn off their TV, he said, as this hinders communication among family members especially during mealtimes.
Fifth, Sundays should be holidays and they should be spent with family. Sixth, respect and take care of nature. He asked, “Isn’t humanity committing suicide with its indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?” Seventh, stop being negative. Instead of cutting others down which is a sign of low self-esteem, one should lift himself instead.
Studies have shown that more than money, relationships are the real source of happiness. A P500 lunch with a good friend can make one happier than having a P3,000 buffet lunch by one’s lone self. The more connected a person is to family and friends, the greater his degree of happiness. How one uses money determines how money can contribute to his happiness. The more one is able to give to others, the happier he is. Dunn and Norton, co-authors of “Happy Money,” say that the more stuff you accumulate—whether it’s watches, handbags, jewelry, trips or other things you collect—the less you appreciate each individual experience. Dunn says, think about all your favorite and happy memories. How many of them involve luxuries versus laughs with people you love? Social relationships are the key to true happiness, he says. So, invest your money on the people in your life: on experiences with them, sharing and spending time with them.
An heiress to a wealthy Japanese tycoon, Mona Nomura, said that when her mother was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, “she spent the days up until her death regretting almost all the choices she made and beat herself up day after day. One of her last journal entries included reflections on how unappreciative she was with things in front of her, and finally realizing happiness does not lie within superficial matters a little too late.”
May we all find true happiness in 2017!
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