Introduction
I've recently joined Steemit, much thanks to my good friend @heimindanger. I made my introduction post 2 days ago, and it's been pretty fun interacting with the few Steemians who commented on it.
Since then I've been thinking of what I should do for my first post, and I had some ideas but wasn't sure if you guys would be interested in reading my content. SO, I cracked a grand plan which is to build my first post around a topic that's interesting to most people (clickbait!), and we'll see how things go from there. Steem is a pretty great platform, and to show my faith in it, I'm powering up all my posts 100%.
If you read my introduction post, you'd know that I'm someone who lives pretty comfortably. I run a number of online businesses and I'm able to work from anywhere in the world as long as I have an internet connection, so most of the time I just do whatever I want and it's been pretty great for the past couple of years.
Right now, I'm in a peaceful town in France, helping a friend renovate his house. Here's a pic of the countryside I snapped yesterday -
Moving on!!
To me, money...
Means a lot of things, and recently I've found myself thinking more about money. I used to think that I'd be happy with earning say... $10,000 a month, but it's never truly enough isn't it? I'd get bored with just sitting around doing nothing.
Money just happens to be a unit of measurement I use to gauge whether or not my business is doing well, so I think about it quite often. At the end of the day, if customers are buying and revenue is growing, it's good for me! Every change I make to my website(s), I make with the goal in the mind of converting more customers, and to ultimately make more money.
On one hand it might be greed, but on another it's always good to aim higher and shoot for bigger goals. It's the only way to grow as a person, if you're constantly moving and improving. Change is very important for growth.
So... onto the big question for myself and everyone -
Can money buy happiness?
It depends on who you are as a person, and what you enjoy doing. If you like traveling and fine dining, then sure, money might buy you happiness. If you're someone who's happy with just the simple things in life, money will just add unwanted complication to your life. So it really depends on what kind of person you are.
There's this meme on the internet where people agree that it's better to cry in a Lamborghini than on a bicycle. I think it basically means they'd rather lead a sad life with a lot of money, than a sad and mediocre one.
It is pretty funny, and I guess I would agree that if I was going to be sad either way, I'd choose to live a life of bitter luxury.
Now, I know many of you would be chiding me for thinking that “money is everything”, but contrary to what you would think after reading my post this far, I’m someone who firmly believes that money doesn’t mean much. My personal answer to this question is a resounding "NO". Money by itself will not buy you happiness.
Money... is just money
I know of many people who have a lot of it but still don’t lead as fulfilling a life as I do. They just go to work everyday and collect a big paycheck at the end of the month. I also know of friends who have less money than me, and every time I meet them, they're all smiles and overall enjoying life as much as I do.
There is no real value to money. By itself, it’s just a piece of paper. If one day, everyone simultaneously decided that they would stop using money and instead started trading food and necessities for items, work, and human effort, money would instantly lose all its perceived value. The only value that money has is the value that we place on it.
But wait, don’t cry just yet! Of course, I’m not saying that we should all throw away our money. Perceived value is still value. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that money isn’t important, because it is. As long as the majority of the human race place value in money, we can continue to use it as a tool or an instrument to help us achieve our goals in life.
Money itself doesn't bring you happiness, but what you do with it that matters
Just don't be the kind of person who only thinks of money as something they can use to buy “stuff”. To spend on their new car, new Rolex, new Chanel bag, or whatever the hell people are buying nowadays. This is just materialism.
Well, not everyone who has the goal of making money is like this, I’m only saying that based on my experience and personal interactions. It’s very common to hear someone say “I can’t wait for this month’s big commission so I can finally get that new watch I’ve been saving up for”, or something along those lines.
It’s always good to reward yourself with something nice every now and then, especially after working hard to earn your wage, but remember to also invest your money into assets and meaningful experience. I think most Steemians should already have this down since you've joined the platform and started to invest your time/money here.
It's all about how you choose to spend your time and money. I'm currently at some small town in France, helping my friend renovate his house. He's not paying me for the work (he buys the food and alcohol to keep us happy), but it's a great chance for me to take a break from business/work matters, and I'm having a real blast sweating and getting messy everyday.
Here are some pics -
Conclusively
I don't claim to know the right answer to this question, and maybe there isn't one, but here's what I think -
If you start thinking of money as a tool to help you progress further in life. I'm sure you'll find that elusive happiness somewhere along the way. Focus on what you enjoy doing, and who knows, you might find yourself happier than you were before even if you're making less money. Even better, leverage on your strengths and you might even be able to make money from doing what you love.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, please feel free to comment your thoughts. Even if you disagree with me and wanna call me a stupid cunt, it's an open forum!
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If you like reading my content, please follow me so you won't miss out on my next post.
I'm thinking of doing a post on "Leverage" next, as I think it's one of the most important aspects in life to seeing success, epsecially if you want to take advantage of the 80/20 rule. At least, it was for me and it has worked out so far so I would like to share my experience.
Cheers, everyone!
This post received a 18% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @nnnhhh! For more information, click here!
Helping a friend to renovate his house is probably one of the best gifts one can give another. Sounds fun too! Look forward to seeing your finished work! cheers
ahhhhhhhhh, i probably won't get the chance to see the finished work since i have to head back to singapore soon.
it definitely was fun, though. i'm lucky i don't have to report to a boss, otherwise i wouldn't have been able to do this for sure
Money might not buy love of happiness... but it takes a huge weight off our shoulders. Haha 10 000 a months haha dude I'd dream to have that😂😂 Im a broke ass student that barely gets 1/10 of that haha! But it is true that there's millionaires who are miserable, just like there are poor people who make the best out of what they have and manage to be happy. Happiness comes from within😏💗 but money is a life savior tho haha! Gotta pray for that lottery ticket tho 💫👌🏻 Amazing post! Keep it up!!
Money does not make you happy, you're in control of what makes you happy
money can buy dog
cats are better
are you trying to tell me that shibas arent cats
Money buying happiness is something often thrown out there. I think happiness can't be bought because it's a state of mind. It has to do with you knowing yourself.
The happy person is happy within.
If I had to choose I'd prefer to be rich and unhappy though!
just like with the lambo meme, i'd probably choose the same. humans are programmed to find happiness regardless of circumstance, anyway. nice gif!
Absolutely, I agree with you. Thanks :D
When one understands the relationship between money and property, and is able to discern between happiness and fulfillment, they will clearly see that the answer is no. And, that no amount of money is a substitute for having the truth.
absolutely, thanks for the great input!
money sure makes it easier to be happy :)
you're right, it sure does. it's not the end-game, though!
Money isnt everything but it helps a lot. Hsppiness can be found in many other ways if we seek it, and we all should.
it sure does! money can give you options/freedom in life which can in-turn lead to happiness, but at the end of the day you need to find happiness in your own way and not rely on money for it. that's what i think, at least.
I agree too.
Great post! Keep up the good work!
Kind regards ,
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"I don't care too much for money" --McCartney Lennon
But seriously, can it? Can money buy me love? family? fulfillment?
Nope.
Money pays the bills and the bills just get bigger with money (standard of living increases).
Do I love money? Yup! But money isn't where my happiness comes from.
absolutely! but money will give you options and freedom in life to pursue your true happiness, or spend time with those you love :)
I believe studies show that happiness increases with the amount of money earned per year up to a certain point, some where around 45k I think, but I feel like that is just a ratio against the avg income for where u live.
I want to make a lot of money one day, like millions, but idrc all that much, it's just that I love food and especially sushi, if I could make enough money to eat whatever I wanted to everyday then I will have accomplished my financial goals.
Absolutely agree, money only has value because we say it does. Since we do give it value, we should use this tool for the greater good of humanity and not selfish gains. It's always the same story, people chasing money in hopes they will find happiness. Yet they always discover that money is not and never will be happiness.
By the way, how's the wine on the French countryside? :)
if you are good person then money will make you better, money make bad people worse. money can also change people personality, just beware :)
@nnnhhh Thanks for following me and sharing great stuff here on your blog. I wish you the best in the Steemit community.
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