Posts Tagged ‘Growth’
Does Money Buy Happiness?
A key assumption in consumer societies has been the idea that “money buys happiness.” Historically, there is a good reason for this assumption—until the last few generations, a majority of people have lived close to subsistence, so an increase in income brought genuine increases in material well-being (e.g., food, shelter, health care) and this has produced more happiness. However, in a number of developed nations, levels of material well-being have moved beyond subsistence to unprecedented abundance. Developed nations have had several generations of unparalleled material prosperity, and a clear understanding is emerging: More money does bring more happiness when we are living on a very low income. However, as a global average, when per capita income reaches the range of $13,000 per year, additional income adds relatively little to our happiness, while other factors such as personal freedom, meaningful work, and social tolerance add much more. Often, a doubling or tripling of income in developed nations has not led to an increase in perceived well-being.
In his book The High Price of Materialism, Tim Kasser assembles considerable research showing “the more materialistic values are at the center of our lives, the more our quality of life is diminished.” He found that people who placed a relatively high importance on consumer goals such as financial success and material acquisition “reported lower levels of happiness and self-actualization and higher levels of depression, anxiety, narcissism, antisocial behavior, and physical problems such as headaches.”
The bottom line is that there is a weak connection between income and happiness once a basic level of economic well-being is reached—roughly $13,000 per year per person. To illustrate this point, the World Values Survey of 2007 revealed that people in Vietnam, with a per capita income of less than $5,000, are just as happy as people in France, with its per capita income of about $22,000. The cattle-herding Masai of Kenya and the Inuit of northern Greenland expressed levels of happiness equal to that of American multimillionaires.
Once a person or family reaches a moderate level of income, here are the factors that research has shown contribute most to happiness:
- GOOD HEALTH Physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
- PERSONAL GROWTH Opportunities for learning, both inner and outer, and giving creative expression to one’s true gifts.
- STRONG SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS Close personal relationships with family, friends, and community in the context of a tolerant and democratic society that values freedom.
- SERVICE TO OTHERS Feeling that our lives contribute to the well-being of others.
- CONNECTION WITH NATURE Communion with the wildness of nature brings perspective, freshness, and gratitude into our lives.
When we look over this list, it is clear that happiness does not have to cost a lot of money. A tolerant society does not cost a lot in material terms, but the rewards to the social atmosphere in civility, congeniality, and happiness are enormous. Feelings of communion with nature and the cosmos come free with being alive. The quality of relationships with family and community grow from the quality of the time and attention we give to them. Personal growth requires nothing more than paying attention to the experience of moving through life. Feelings of gratitude for life are free.
Happiness is a nonmaterial gift that can spread like a contagion among family, friends, and neighbors—rippling out to touch people who do not even know one another. This is the striking conclusion of a study of more than forty-seven hundred people over a twenty-year period. The study found that one person’s happiness can affect another’s for as much as a year. Researchers also found that, while unhappiness can spread from person to person like an infection, that emotion appears to be far weaker, and does not spread as far or as powerfully, as happiness. The study also explored the importance of friends and social networks as a source of happiness as compared with the importance of money. The study’s coauthor states, “Our work shows that whether a friend’s friend is happy has more influence than a $5,000 raise.” In the face of economic difficulties, his message is “You still have your friends and family, and these are the people to rely on to be happy.” Happiness is a social network phenomenon and can reach up to three degrees of separation (the friend of a friend of a friend), which means that your happiness can involve persons you have not even met.
Happiness is largely a networked social phenomenon once a sustaining level of material well-being is reached. If we worried less about material appearances and thought more about soulful connections with others, we could put our life-energy into creating robust, healthy, and rewarding relationships. The more we learn about the “science of happiness,” the more we see that focusing on material acquisition and status is not serving us well and that it would be enormously helpful to redefine progress.
~ Duane Elgin
A Lesson From Michael Jackson
Yesterday was a very somber day with the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Based on the enormous amount of coverage of his death, I believe it will be one of those moments of “Where were you?” I can already hear people asking, “Where were you when they pronounced Michael Jackson had died?”
No death is exciting, but I believe all deaths do tend to make people reflect on life. Whether you liked him or hated him, Michael inspired the music careers of those who you may claim to enjoy. More importantly, Michael found a way to make his dream come true.
On Twitter, a good friend of mine posed this question “Would the world be mourning if Michael Jackson had gotten a “real job?” He then followed it by saying go “courageously after your dreams.” My friend, Willie, was exactly right. When you have a dream, go for it. About three weeks ago, I tweeted, randomly, that Michael Jackson picked a niche and got rich-the glove, the high water pants, the jacket, and the slick dance moves. Those who worked with Michael commented yesterday expressing sorrow, but also sharing how meticulous he was about his work. He believed in his dream and he pushed himself to give his fans what they wanted. This would explain why when you see videos of him, you see so many of the fans crying and pouring their hearts out profusely.
What dream do you have inside of you that you are willing to show the same detailed dedication to it like Michael did?
Even more, Michael did something that amazed me. He was charitable in his own right. He created songs and made videos about social issues that were and still are plaguing many communities. He went where others did not, would not, and could not go. In the end, he helped bring an enormous amount of attention and awareness to these issues. As he said in the lyrics of his song Man in the Mirror, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change!”
Friends, live your dreams! The world is waiting for what you have to offer. Just like Michael touched the lives of others through his dream, you too can do the same. Your very own dream is meant to bless the lives of others, bring encouragement to others, and/or provide inspiration to others.
Live your dreams!
Rest In Peace Michael Joseph Jackson.
– Laymon A. Hicks
11 Ways To Make This Your Best Year Yet
Today is a wonderful time to take stock and reflect on the year gone by, the triumphs you achieved, the time you shared with family and friends, the good choices you made in business. But in order to grow and develop both personally and professionally, you also have to look back at and acknowledge the things that challenged you, the things that did not go so well.
There is nothing wrong with setbacks, in fact, I believe that if we don’t have obstacles to overcome along the way we won’t learn and grow. Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM, once said, “If you want to increase your rate of success, you better be prepared to increase your rate of failure.”
We all have hopes and dreams for the future. Today the slate is wiped clean for all of us as we start afresh. Why not take a few moments to think about your dreams and goals for the year that starts today? In what areas do you want to grow? What is truly important to you? What challenges do you want to take on? Most of us don’t realise what we can accomplish when we unleash the hidden talents that we possess.
To help you make this year your best ever, take a few moments to ponder these 11 suggestions:
1. Challenge yourself
Have a clear vision and focus of what you want to achieve and set a time frame. Challenge yourself to be the best you can be at all times. Visualise what you want to accomplish. See it in your mind. Write down your goals, have a plan of action, and never doubt you will be successful.
2. Find the love factor
Surround yourself with loving, supportive people. Stay away from the dream stealers, the people who would bring you down. Cherish the special people in your life and let them know you cherish them.
3. Dedicate quality time
Life is so precious; make the most of each and every day. Rise early, spend some quality time by yourself as well as with those you care about. Go for a walk, workout, read a book. Value not only the time you spend with your loved ones, but also the time you spend by yourself.
4. Stretch your comfort zone
Do at least one thing a day, which makes you feel uncomfortable. Push yourself; you will be amazed how far you can go. Remember: on the other side of fear is freedom. To remain stagnant is not to grow. To reach your full potential, you must rise above the fray and soar like an eagle.
5. Be passionate
Show passion in everything you do. Let it show in your body language, in your smile, in your voice. Let your eyes sparkle. Let the world see and hear your enthusiasm and let it feel your passion.
6. Serve others
Be a role model and mentor for people. Volunteer in your community and help others achieve their goals. Your world will be enriched and a better place for sharing your talents and giving freely of your time. Leave a lasting legacy.
7. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Let go of the little things you can’t control. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Recognise that perfection isn’t always the only option. Don’t let life’s imperfections bother you. Lighten up and see the funny side of things when they go wrong, the learning in them. Be tolerant, smile…don’t waste your energies on the small stuff, you have much bigger fish to fry.
8. Live with integrity
Always be true to yourself. Take pride in whatever you do. Be proud of who you are and what you represent. Accept others with all their flaws. Show compassion and goodwill to your fellow human beings. Be dignified. Lead a life of purpose and be proud of your values.
9. Show gratitude
Show gratitude and say thank-you to the people who have helped you along the way. Send a handwritten letter to someone who has touched you. Call up a friend or loved one and tell them how much they mean to you. Compliment a colleague or business associate on a job well done. Show people you appreciate and care about them. Acts of kindness cost nothing but mean everything.
10. Celebrate success
Be proud of your achievements. Take time to recognise yourself and others for even the small successes. But also be humble and dignified, sensitive to people who are not as fortunate as you.
11. Exude a positive attitude
I cannot express enough the importance of having a positive attitude and believing in yourself. Yes, you can be well intentioned, you can be determined, but without a positive attitude about yourself and about life, you will not succeed. Dreams will die, goals will fade, and gloom and darkness will replace clear blue skies and sunshine in your mind and heart.
Remember people will sometimes forget what you say to them or do for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel in their hearts. Make yourself a commitment for this year not only to have the best year ever, but to help others that you care about accomplish this goal as well.
– Charles Marcus
Waiting
A mother gives birth only after nine months.
Trees. It takes centuries for them to grow reaaaal tall and sturdy.
Real hair (not the ones you can buy from a store) takes time to grow.
Writing a book.
Wounds to heal.
Deep Friendships.
Loving a friend
Forgiving someone.
In an impatient society where everything is fast track, we forget the value of waiting. But the real things in life can’t be hurried up. Even if we still don’t understand why life unfolds as such, we choose to wait and grow. Because we trust and hope in Him who knows best.
– Jojang