Is Happiness Important than Money? Essay Example

There is always a puzzle of whether money is more important than happiness in life. Discussions about the implication of money or happiness in the fulfillment of one's life elicit strong positions, with the supporters of both sides striving to win the debate. The weight of this discussion proves the significance of the two notions. People usually find themselves entangled in the struggle for wealth, hustling all day and night without rest to achieve their financial ambitions (Tay 840). However, they forget to ask themselves the real meaning of life. Is it the money they are always looking for, or are they searching for happiness that disguises itself as wealth? If the following day they woke up with even twice the amount of money they have ever thought of having, would they stop searching for more? Certainly, very few people will stop working even after securing a substantial measure of wealth. In the same perspective, another school of thought castigates the fight for money and defines life in the aspects of happiness. Such debates make it necessary for scholars to come up with verified perceptions that people can employ if they propose to remain satisfied in life. A look at different perspectives inclines on happiness as an essential element of life. This paper seeks to evaluate the available literature that would help justify happiness as the most critical aspect of life.

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Personal Point of View: Happiness Is Important Than Money

Having happiness in one's life is an excellent score. A study by Boyce et al. established the relationship between happiness and health, showing that happiness does not only generates psychological gains in one's life but also initiates health and physiological benefits (545). The primary gain in the sociological aspect is the fulfilment that a person achieves. A look at the fulfilment curve explains the relationship between fulfilment and success (Pogosyan). Although most people are always searching for money, they never understand that the ultimate goal hidden in wealth is fulfilment. Yet fulfilment is the primary benefit of happiness!

Typically, a happy person can efficiently manage social anxiety disorders (Pogosyan). Regardless of one’s financial ability, the most threatening factor is encountering negative public perception. Fear of negative perception lowers psychological efficiency and reduces one’s overall performance. Physiologically, the positive emotions that a happy person has enhances performances biological systems like endocrine and cardiovascular (Pogosyan). In case they develop health complications, people who have to lead a happy life exhibit faster healing rates. The major positive health behaviors in people leading a happy life are physical activity and smooth response to medication (Boyce et al. 546). These characteristics are useful for one to recover even after they developed health complications.

Cases Where Money May Be Important

The primary argument that some people use to support their prioritization on money is the claim that wealth can buy happiness. People who subscribe to this notion find working themselves out without rest to meet their appetite for wealth. If a person has more money, he or she typically elevates spending habit and develops an executive spending power that triggers a thrilling experience. Matz et al. noted that rich people enjoy engaging in luxury spending sprees (6). The increased spending triggers a dopamine effect in their brains and provides a sense of euphoria satisfaction, a feeling of happiness. Because happiness is temporary, one is obliged to spend again to maintain their initial feeling.

Another claim is that money determines a person's level of satisfaction. Matz et al. indicated that if people have enough money, they stay satisfied with what their financial ability can secure for them (8). The author explains that in the typical life setting, people often observe the life of the wealthy and see a content life with ample luxury and money to spend. It is the money that supports their great life. Since the prizes and measures of success in life utilize wealth as the standard unit of measure, having material satisfaction is also important (Matz et al. 6).

Shortfalls of Money As the Most Important Thing

Although some scholars support the dominance of money over happiness, the idea indicates various shortfalls. Matz et al. claimed that money can buy happiness are wrong founded. The ability to acquire material requirements does not translate to buying happiness (Tay 852). For instance, when a person suffering from social anxiety bought a nice attire to impress the public, he or she may get illusionary happiness. However, when the person reaches home, he or she will still face his miserable feelings. He or she did not secure lasting fulfilment that everyone would yearn to have. Happiness’ main product is fulfilment. Also, the intention of people to work round-the-clock looking for wealth is a wrong perception of life. Such people intend to increase extravagance, which gives them a status in society. Despite this thrilling experience activating dopamine feeling in their brain, the satisfaction is usually temporary. For people with weak social ability, the only way of maintaining their happiness is through constantly spending. This demand is likely to sabotage their future financial stability.

The argument that the life of wealthy groups in society is always fulfilling is wrong. Affording ample luxury and what appears comfortable life does not automatically translate to a successful life (Tay 842). Boyce et al. noted that although most wealthy people seem content and happy with life, many of them hide their sorrows from the public, which manifests itself when they remained alone in their homes (546). Their riches cannot sustain the faking of fulfilment throughout their entire life. The crimes they might have committed in their search for wealth, the people they let-go, or even time they did not spare for their families usually haunts them.

Conclusion

Happiness is more important than money in life. This conclusion results not only from my understanding but also from the presentations of different scholars put in the preceding subtopics. A review of the support arguments indicates rational approaches. The benefits of happiness are quite broad, ranging from psychological, physiological, and general health. Since an excellent mental status is paramount to one's social, physiological and health condition, it is prudent to strive for happiness over anything else. The satisfaction of the minds of a happy person relaxes them and enhances their performance even in pursuit of wealth.

All the arguments in support of money lack weight. Unknowingly, the efforts of most people in search of wealth do purpose the riches, but the happiness that the wealth would activate in their life. Although most people search for wealth, thinking that they will access as much pleasure as they might need, results are not always as in their anticipation. A person can be wealthy yet still living in sorrows. What appears a comfortable life may harbor hidden pains that destroy a person's future growth. Since real happiness comes with benefits to one's life, people should target it instead of tirelessly working for wealth, which does not assure them eternal fulfilment.

Works Cited

Boyce, Christopher J., et al. "Money may buy happiness, but often so little that it doesn’t matter." Psychological Science 28.4 (2017): 544-546. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797616672271

Matz, Sandra C., Joe J. Gladstone, and David Stillwell. "Money buys happiness when spending fits our personality." Psychological science 27.5 (2016): 715-725. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797616635200

Pogosyan, Marianna. “The Health Benefits of Happiness.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 4 Oct. 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/201910/the-health-benefits-happiness. Accessed 15 July. 2020

Louis, Lauren Kuykendall, and Ed Diener. "Satisfaction and happiness–the bright side of quality of life." Global handbook of quality of life. Springer, Dordrecht, 2015. 839-853. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-017-9178-6_39.