A philosophical question at heart, to what extent does money bring genuine happiness into one’s life? In order to attain a reasonable stance on this topic, let’s explore both sides of this controversial argument.
MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS:
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In society, money is what brings success and happiness.
This statement is quite self-explanatory. Wealth is considered a marker of status in our current world, and the more money you have, the more successful you are viewed. Although somewhat cliche, the statement “hard work pays off” proves to hold true. This is due to the fact that in almost all cases, the wealth you obtain derives from the effort you put into your academic and financial goals. Motivation and determination underlie your ability and success to achieve these goals. Therefore, society praises, respects, and admires those who are rich.
It can also be agreed that money holds value, both literally and figuratively. The basic necessities — shelter, food, and clothing — are all bought with money, meaning that money is the absolute basis of sustaining a healthy, and thus happy, life. Money holds a high value in our current society, and for good reason. It can be argued that money is the prime motivator for the majority of the population, given its importance for living a pleasant life. As such, essentially, success and happiness nowadays all stem from wealth.
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Money buys everything that makes one happy.
Other than providing one with the basic needs for survival, money goes beyond that by allowing one to enjoy the luxury of life. Reflect on the last occasion you celebrated. Now imagine it without the food, gifts, and everything else bought with money. Chances are, the celebration and the atmosphere would be quite dreary. This proves that wealth itself holds the power to buy items that make life pleasing and enjoyable. Bill Gates (with a net worth of over 100 billion USD) himself said that money has indeed made him a happier person.
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Wealthy people tend to have less stress.
Studies have proven that money reduces intense stress levels in adults. Although we all face day-to-day struggles, wealthy people are more in control of negative situations and thus do not worry as much. Those with lower incomes have more at stake, as, say, one minor dispute at work could dictate whether they can pay the rent next month. Those with lower wages generally work more hours, meaning that they will have less time to spend with their loved ones. This can lead to many mental health issues in these individuals.
Also, take for example a practical situation. Imagine you were coming home late from work but you had to take your kid to an extracurricular activity. If you have money, this issue may be resolved by calling an Uber or missing the class altogether. You would have a much harder time fixing this problem without money. Therefore, having money would allow you to resolve problems more efficiently and more effectively. This also proves why wealthy people also are more satisfied and happy with their lives.
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Money is the primary motivator for the advancement of society.
For the sake of securing a promising future, money is what drives most to pursue higher-level education. Only with education can one be able to find a well-paying job, and only with a job can one support themselves and their family. On a side note, parents with lower wages, more times than not, also spend less time with their children due to busy schedules. As a result, without proper attention from their parents, their child is more prone to face emotional distress, lower academic performance, and adopt harmful habits and behaviours.
But back to the point, the only reason that society continues to develop and thrive is because of the individuals in it who are willing to work and innovate. One motivator primarily fuels this willingness: money. Quite simply, people only work if they have something to gain, and money is a universal asset. The fact that money is the stimulus to a functioning society already demonstrates its value. So if humans are driven by assets and the idealized life is where one is happy, then these assets must bring us happiness. In other words, since humans strive so desperately for money, then money must bring positivity to some extent into one’s life. The best life to live is a life where one is happy, so that means that humans are motivated by money to attain happiness.
MONEY CANNOT BUY HAPPINESS:
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“True happiness comes from within.”
This statement is accurate on many levels. Before understanding why that is, we must first define what exactly happiness is. Happiness is doing what we enjoy, like and love because it brings us joy. Material possessions and money are societal measures of success, however, it is not true success. To truly succeed in life means doing what you enjoy and is meaningful to you, and living life to its extent. Unless gaining money is the only source of fulfillment and satisfaction in your life, then philosophically, being rich does not make you successful, nor does it make you happy. If you work at a job that does not share your own values, sure you earn money, but is it really worth it to spend your whole life on something you do not enjoy?
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Money brings a false sense of happiness.
Taking the counterargument at its best, even if it is valid that money adds joy to one’s life, it will only be to a certain extent. Compare money to a drug in this case; it may temporarily make a materialistic person happy for a certain period of time, but it does not last for long. Someone might thrive off of money for a while, but after they have fulfilled all their materialistic desires, they will reach a point where they realize that money alone cannot bring happiness. True happiness, like love and relationships with others, cannot be bought. You achieve such things that bring you genuine joy through emotional and social effort. Attaining this real happiness is the greatest prize in life, far outweighing money and what it can buy. You can be the richest person in the world but also the loneliest.
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People often take advantage of those with wealth.
If you are rich, chances are, many of your relationships are unhealthy or fake. True friendships are hard to come across, as many might want to be associated with you for your monetary status. They may want to get close to you for a number of selfish reasons, such as maintaining their public image or attempting to woo you for money. They could also do it simply out of spite to betray you in the end. Like moths to a flame, it is difficult to truly connect with others when they are intently focused on your money. The same concept with personal relationships goes for professional relationships. Oftentimes, people are more attentive to your wealth instead of yourself as a human being. As such, your personality, skills, and talents are all disregarded.
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With wealth, also comes fear.
It is highly inaccurate to assume that someone lives a happy, carefree life just because they are wealthy. Everyone has their own struggles in life. In fact, wealthy people have fears of isolation and doubt over relationships, perhaps even more so than middle-class people. Again, people often take advantage of wealthy people. Although they may not face barriers financially, they are still human and must also overcome obstacles in relationships. And remember that relationships are the true bringer of happiness. Additionally, wealthy parents often spoil their children, which leads to unhealthy attitudes towards money. They may become overdependent on their parents’ wealth and bring this into future relationships. Eventually, though, they will discover that money by itself is not an authentic source of happiness.
So, now what do you think? Can money actually make one happier in life?
SOURCES: 1 / Feature Image
