"Money is not necessary to buy one necessity of the soul." – Henry David Thoreau
Times are tough. Millions of people suffer pain and suffering – loss of jobs, reduced wages, seizure, bankruptcy, neglect of health and so on. According to the hierarchy of needs of Abraham Maslow, the most basic need is survival. They know the desperate situation – Who are simply trying survive.
Interestingly, another group of people who survived, has met the basic needs, but have a similar desperate condition – namely, poverty – those who think that more money is the only element that will bring them happiness.
Recently researchers at the University of Warwick have found that, for many of the latter group, some kind of inner work – therapy or counseling, rather than increased income is 32 times more effective to reduce or eliminate unhappiness emotional and psychological distress, a Once our "basic needs" (a Maslow) are met, the increase in income does not do much to increase our experience happiness and welfare.
In their study, the researchers found an experience of four months of therapy or counseling produced a greater impact people sense common "welfare income growth, for example, a wage increase, even winning the lottery. Even money won for" pain and suffering " in claims not repair the emotional or psychological harm.
What I find interesting when I read on the health of our country, is the basis of many of its assessment "health" on the basis of GDP and related economic and financial statistics. Me? I choose to look at the statistics the country's mental health – by example, rates of obesity, cancer, heart disease, depression, suicide, abuse, addiction, etc. Why? The research results also point to the phenomenon of a steady decline in mental health and happiness in developed countries over the past fifty years. Individualand growth collective economic National Happiness has not risen.
On a personal level, Daniel Gilbert, author of the book "Stumbling on Happiness, suggests that" in general, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs (Maslow). Once you pass an income of $ 50,000, more money does not buy more happiness. Our culture implores us to buy bigger, newer and better things, but research shows "stuff" does not buy happiness. "
In the end, there is a large segment of our population who spend their lives doing things they detest to make money, they do not want to buy things they do not need to impress people who do not like at all in trying to find the happiness. Is this true? And if so, to request the final, but important common question: "How works for you in relation to the vis experiencing true and true happiness? "
"If the world's gold was all melted in a bucket solid, would be the size of a house eight rooms. If a man took all that gold – billions of dollars – he could not buy a friend, character, peace of mind, consciousness or a sense of eternity. "- Charles F. Bunning
Here are some issues of self-reflection are:
- What do I want the money to do for me?
- What is happiness to you?
- What are the things, qualities, service for your enjoyment in life?
- What is the role of money in their search for meaning? Is there still a role?
- How can you make money?
- What money are you afraid?
- How does money rule your life?
- The money is your servant or your master?
- What has been your experience and your family about money, like when you were up to
—ABOUT THE AUTHOR—
Peter Vajda, Ph.D, C.P.C. is a founding partner of SpiritHeart, an Atlanta-based company that supports conscious living through coaching and counseling. With a practice based on the dynamic intersection of mind, body, emotion and spirit, Peter’s ‘whole person’ coaching approach supports deep and sustainable change and transformation.
Peter facilitates and guides leaders and managers, individuals in their personal and work life, partners and couples, groups and teams to move to new levels of self-awareness, enhancing their ability to show up authentically and with a heightened sense of well be-ing, inner harmony and interpersonal effectiveness as they live their lives at work, at home, at play and in relationship.
Peter is a professional speaker and published author. For more information: http://www.spiritheart.net, or pvajda@spiritheart.net, or phone 770.804.9125.
