Can Money Make You Happy?

When you think about being happy, do you think having more money is the answer? It's normal to believe that if we had more money, we'd be happier. But let's see if that's really true.

Money is helpful because it buys things we need, like food, a home, and clothes. When we don't have enough money for these, we might worry a lot. So, a little more money can make us less worried and a bit happier.

However, once we have enough money for the things we need, getting even more money doesn't always make us extra happy. It's like having enough cookies to eat — if you eat too many, they don't taste as good anymore.

Happiness isn't just about money. Here are some other things that make us smile:

• Laughing and spending time with people we like makes us feel great.
• When we have hobbies or do things we're good at, we feel happy.
• When we think about the good stuff we already have, instead of wanting more and more, we feel good.
• When we eat well and move around, we feel better.

Having a balance is important. We use money for things we need and some things we like. But we also need to remember to hang out with friends, play, and stay healthy, because that's all part of being happy too.

So, yes, money helps up to a point, but it's not the only thing that makes us happy. Being with people we love and doing things we enjoy are very important too. It's all about finding the right mix.

What Really Makes You Happy That You Might Not Realise

The Joy of Simple Things

Life can get really busy, with everyone always trying to have the newest and best things. But there's something nice about keeping things simple. When things are simple, you can find joy in them that you can't buy with money.

Think about a calm moment when nothing big is happening. Maybe you're just sitting and looking out the window, watching the sky change colors as the sun sets. Or when you take a slow walk outside and notice the trees and the fresh air. These times don't cost anything, but they make us feel really peaceful inside.

Cooking and eating a meal at home can also make us very happy. When you cook a recipe that's been in your family for a long time, it's special. It's the fun of making something, the taste that brings back memories, and the good feeling when you share it with family or friends.

Or when you take a walk in a park or by the sea, it's not just about moving your legs. It's about feeling connected to the big, natural world around us, listening to the sounds of birds or the waves, and letting all the busy thoughts in our heads quiet down for a bit.

Simple things are like secret keys to happiness that don't cost money. They are the quiet, beautiful parts of life that are easy to miss if we're always chasing after new, fancy things. They're a reminder that some of the best stuff in life—the stuff that really makes us smile and feel good—is actually really simple and free.

The Power of Community

Being part of where you live, like your neighborhood, can make you feel great. When you volunteer or help someone near you, or even when you join a club or group, you get to know more people. It's like being part of a big family.

Imagine one person helping another with their grocery bags or watching their kids for a while. Then that person decides to bake some cookies and share them with someone else. Little by little, each small act of kindness creates a chain of good feelings and friendships.

When everyone in a neighborhood or town helps each other and does things together, it makes everyone feel like they belong and are important. This feeling of being part of a group or community can make us feel safe and happy.

Being connected with others around us means we have people to talk to, share with, and get help from. It’s really nice to know that if you need a hand, there’s someone nearby who cares. And when you help others, you get a warm feeling inside because you’ve done something good.

So, when we join in and contribute to our community, we’re really building a home for our hearts, not just for our bodies. That’s the special thing about community – it helps us all feel connected, useful, and part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s about giving, sharing, and caring for the people around us, and it’s one of the best feelings in the world.

Emotional Wealth

Feeling happy has a lot to do with our emotions and how we deal with feelings. Figuring out how to stay calm when things get tough, letting go of anger or sadness, and trying to look at the bright side can make us feel a lot better. 

Think of it like this: When life gets busy or hard, it's like carrying a heavy backpack. If we learn how to take a deep breath and relax, it's like taking some stuff out of that backpack so it's not so heavy. And when we forgive people instead of staying mad, it's like taking out even more things we don't need to carry around.

Being positive is like finding a light in a dark room. It helps us see the good things around us. And the best part? Learning to be calm, to forgive, and to stay positive doesn't cost a penny, but these skills are worth a lot because they make us and those around us feel good inside.

When we're better at handling our feelings, not only do we feel happier, but our friends and family do, too. It's like a superpower for our heart and mind that helps us enjoy life more. That's what we call emotional wealth – being rich in happiness and health on the inside.

The Joy of Learning New Things

Have you ever felt really good when you learn something new? It could be a simple thing like how to plant a flower or how to say "hello" in a different language. When we learn, we feel proud, and it's a happiness that doesn't need money.

Imagine this: You start to learn how to play the guitar. At first, it’s hard and your fingers might hurt, but you keep practicing. Then, one day, you can play a whole song. That feeling – the "I did it!" feeling – is really amazing.

Learning makes us feel good because it shows us we can grow and do new things. It might be a cooking class, a puzzle, or a book about stars. It’s fun to find out more about stuff we like.

And the best part? The happiness from learning stays with us. Every time we use what we’ve learned, like speaking a few words in a new language, we get reminded of that happy feeling.

So, learning isn't just about school or homework. It's about that exciting feeling when we understand something new that we were curious about. It’s about feeling a bit more clever each time we discover something and use it in our everyday life. That's the special joy that comes from learning.

The Happiness of Having Time

Do you know how nice it is to have time to do what you want, instead of being very busy all the time? This is what some people call 'time richness.' It’s when you have time to relax, play, or just be you, without feeling like you need to be doing a bunch of stuff.

Think about a day when you don't have a long list of things to do. You can sit and enjoy a cup of tea, watch birds in the park, or just take a long, slow walk. This is about enjoying time itself, not just filling time by buying things or being super busy.

When we choose to have time to live in the moment and not rush through everything, we can feel really calm and happy. It's like finding hidden treasure in our day that we usually rush past.

So, being 'time rich' means you care more about having the freedom to use your time your way. And guess what? It can make us feel very peaceful and satisfied with life. It’s about enjoying being ourselves and not always trying to do more and more. That's the special kind of happiness that comes from having and loving our own time.

The Joy of Being Kind

Have you ever done a nice little thing for someone just because? Maybe you let someone go in front of you in line or gave someone a smile when they looked sad. When we do these kind things, it makes us feel really good inside.

Even small stuff, like buying a coffee for the next person in line or writing a nice message to a friend, can make us really happy. It's a surprise for the other person, and it's a surprise for us too, because we feel so happy after doing it.

And here's a cool thing about being kind – when you do something nice, often the person who got the kindness wants to be kind to someone else. It's like when you throw a tiny pebble into a pond, and the ripples spread out far and wide.

So, every time we're kind to someone, we're spreading happiness all over the place, to people we don't even know. And starting that wave of kindness with just one little act is a really amazing feeling. That's the joy of being kind – it doesn't just stay with us; it grows and reaches others, too!

Being truly happy doesn't just come from having lots of money or stuff. It comes from simple things like taking it easy, getting along with people around us, learning new stuff, having free time to just be ourselves, and doing nice things for others. These are what make our days great and full of smiles.

Now, if all this sounds good but a bit tricky to figure out on your own, don't worry! I'm here to help. I offer coaching and mentoring services to help you find all the different ways you can be happy. We can look at the little things that make a big difference, learn to make new friends, find out how to enjoy the time we have, and even discover how to spread kindness.

If you think you might need a little help or you just want someone to talk to about being happier, reach out to me. We'll chat and work together to make your life the best it can be, filled with real happiness from things that truly matter.