For my entire life, I’ve always been told that money can’t buy happiness; and I’ve always just accepted that statement as true.
But the other day, I listened to a TED radio podcast that pointed to the fact that the idea that money can or can’t buy happiness is more complex than it might appear on the surface.
Turns out it’s what we do with money that determines our level of happiness. Not the amount of money we have.
As an example, if I gave you $3000, and you spent that on a blowout week in Las Vegas, you’d likely have a good time during your time there, but it would not contribute to your overall sense of happiness and fulfillment.
On the other hand, if you used that money to help build a safe playground for underprivileged children in your community, or invested the money in an educational or enrichment program that prepared you to help others – now, that’s a different story.
According to Michael Norton, Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, it turns out that the key is to use your money for ‘social spending’; putting your money where it benefits others most. That can be from direct giving (like the playground example above) or from learning a skill that can benefit others in the long run.
So, it’s not that money can’t buy happiness. It’s that we’re not spending money in the right way. Studies show that people who spend money in a way that will benefit others are happier people.
I can count myself as one of those folks. The day I decided to leave the lucrative advertising and entertainment field and become a reflexologist was the day I began to build a foundation of true happiness, not just happy experiences. My happiness grows being able to help improve the lives of others.
If reflexology looks like a good way for you to invest your money and time in order to help others, then I invite you to take a look at the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification. 2018 classes start the beginning of April, and class size is limited.
