Wealth and happiness. Two words are often mentioned in the same sentence. People want to be wealthy so that they can be happy. But is this the case? Do people who are wealthy really experience more happiness than those who are not?
In my quest to find out, I learned a lot of things about happiness and wealth from books, people, podcasts, and my own experiences. So here are the lessons I learned.
Table of Contents
ToggleHappiness and wealth – What do they have in common?
#1 Planning
It is natural to strive for wealth and happiness in the 21st century. But many people do not have a plan on how to achieve these things.
Both areas do not happen by chance, and both require planning and proactivity.
Therefore, if I want to be happy, I have to take action toward the goal – to be happy.
For example, relationships.
It is known that having meaningful and quality relationships is one of the key factors to happiness.
Therefore it requires investment.
That means investing time and planning meetings with people who are important to us.
If I expect it to be spontaneous – that’s cool, but I don’t take control of it.
It may sound funny to make appointments with people who are important to us but it is essential if we want to have a happy life.
The same goes for wealth.
If I don’t plan things like budget management, checking my bank account, setting a budget, and looking for new opportunities to make money and save money – my wealth will not happen by chance.
I have to take action and be proactive.
In conclusion, what is common here is the matter of planning. If we let things just happen spontaneously and we don’t plan it. Our chances of being happy or rich decrease.
#2 Investment
I need to invest in both areas.
Invest time and energy.
On a practical level, this means learning to invest in what makes me happy or investing time in learning how to manage finances or how to invest.
Those who don’t dedicate time to learning about money will have a harder time achieving wealth.
The same goes for happiness. If I don’t dedicate time to finding out what makes me happy and invest in those things – my chances of being happy are slim.
There is no escape – both wealth and happiness require investment if I want to achieve them.
It is important to understand that the investment will pay off. It is not a waste of time.
#3 Don’t be obsessive
I’ll start with an example to explain.
Have you ever known a person who was very obsessed with you?
Obsessed on such a level that he made you stay away from him, something in his desire crossed the line, and it became an obsession.
It can also be the other way around. Has your obsession with someone ever caused them to distance themselves from you?
The same goes for wealth and happiness.
Chasing happiness and wealth as a goal in life may lead you to the opposite result.
Don’t be obsessed with the idea of being wealthy or happy. Do your thing but don’t push too hard.
6 lessons about happiness:
#1 Relationships
Do you spend enough time with the people closest to you?
According to studies, one of the key factors to happiness is having quality relationships.
This means that we need to invest time in the people who are important to us.
If we want to have a happy life, we need to make appointments with the people closest to us and not expect things to happen spontaneously.
#2 Volunteer
Volunteering has many benefits.
It makes us happier, helps others, and it also strengthens our community.
When we volunteer, we invest our time and energy in something bigger than ourselves.
And that feels good.
#3 Be grateful
When I travel, I sometimes catch with myself moments of gratitude.
I compare what I have at home with what I see around me and take for granted all the good things I have in my life.
But the truth is, no matter where we are or what we have, we can always find something to be grateful for.
Every day, try to take a few minutes to think about the things you’re grateful for.
For example, I find it very helpful to do this through comparison
I compare my current situation with a difficult moment in the past, and then I’m grateful for what I have now.
This way of thinking about gratitude helps me to appreciate the good things in my life even more. It’s also a great way to start the day.
#4 environment
Your environment affects your happiness, both the people and the location you surround yourself with.
If you’re not happy with your current situation, try to change it.
It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.
I changed my environment by buying a plane ticket and moving to another country.
And as a digital nomad, it’s easier to build the life I want because I can work from anywhere.
In my journey, I get to meet digital nomads from all over the world, and it’s amazing how similar we are sometimes.
We share the same values, we love freedom, and we’re all building our happiness.
I know it’s not easy to change the environment you’re in. But you can start by making small changes.
NLP TIP: One of the things I learned in NLP is that first, you add, and then you remove.
First, find the right people that make you happy, and after that, get rid of the ones that don’t.
#5 Happiness boosters
Make your list of happiness boosters – take a page and write down everything that makes you feel good.
What are the activities, people, places, or things that make you feel happy?
For me, it’s things like people, talking to my best friend, playing football, helping people, listening to music, reading, writing, and traveling.
Your list can be as long or as short as you want. The important thing is that you make it.
#6 Free and automatic writing
Write down your stream of consciousness for 5-10 minutes.
Don’t think too much, write whatever comes to your mind.
It is highly recommended to do this in your morning routine or your night routine.
You can do this with a notebook and a pen, or you can use your computer.
The important thing is that you write without thinking too much.
Related: https://www.awakenhappylife.ie/post/automatic-writing-how-to-use-it-in-holistic-way
4 lessons about wealth
#1 impress – Stop it
Are you spending money to impress people you don’t like?
Many times people spend money to impress others, and this is a big mistake, in my opinion.
Wealth is not about how much money you have. It’s about how you use it.
If you’re spending money to impress people, chances are you’re not using it in the best way possible.
#2 Invest
Investing is one of the best ways to grow your wealth.
When you invest, you’re putting your money into something that has the potential to grow.
And over time, if you’re investing in the right things, your wealth will grow.
There are many different ways to invest, so it’s important to do your research and find the best way for you.
Related: How Do I Learn to Invest?
I decided to focus only on learning stock investments with the help of my personal content consumption strategy because it’s something I’m interested in.
And now I invest in stocks and bonds.
#3 Consider your time
Your time is one of your most valuable assets.
You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.
So it’s important to use your time wisely.
For example, if you’re spending hours every day watching TV, you’re not using your time in the best way possible.
You could be using that time to make more money or to learn something new.
It’s up to you how you use your time, but it’s important to consider it.
I decided to use my time to learn about investing, and now I’m using that knowledge to grow my wealth.
#4 Don’t compare yourself to others
This is a big mistake that a lot of people make.
They compare themselves to others and they think they’re not doing well because they don’t have as much money as someone else.
Related: How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
But this is the wrong way to think about wealth.
Wealth is relative, and it’s different for everyone.
So instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your own journey and your own progress.
Final thoughts
I hope you found these tips helpful. Remember, wealth is not about how much money you have. It’s about how you use it. If you’re using your money in the best way possible, you’re on the right track.
Keep learning and growing, and you’ll be well on your way to financial success. Thanks for reading!
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