Beyond the Green: Unraveling the Myth of Money and Happiness

Can true happiness be derived from money?

In a world that often measures success in stacks of bills and the gleam of gold, two minds, Daniel and Helen, are talking about a big question. As the ink of their pens meets the digital canvas, they embark on a journey to explore a question that has echoed through the ages: Can true happiness be derived from money?

The stage is set for an intimate exchange of ideas, a duet of contrasting perspectives that promises to ignite the dormant embers of introspection within each reader. Helen, with her pragmatic gaze fixed on the tangible comforts money can provide, stands ready to make a compelling case. On the opposing side, Daniel, guided by the whisper of his heart, contends that the essence of joy transcends the material realm.

As these two minds take center stage in this formal tête-à-tête, the reader is invited to witness the unfolding symphony of perspectives, a symposium where the pursuit of happiness is dissected under the cool, impartial light of reason. Join us in this exploration where the pursuit of understanding takes precedence, and the contours of happiness are examined with scholarly rigor.

What does happiness mean to you, and do you believe it can be guaranteed by having money?

Helen: Honestly I don’t know if there is a description for happiness, I think it is a feeling that comes along when you feel fulfilled. Or some form of satisfaction or simply put, a state of not being sad. Happiness means a lot to me, even if it is just for a short while, it elevates my mood and makes me feel great! From a personal point of view, I believe happiness can be guaranteed by money to an extent because I am able to afford whatever I need to make me satisfied or content, and that’s where happiness comes in.

Daniel: In my opinion, happiness cannot be defined but it can be explained as a feeling liberated from pain. When we say we are happy, we generally mean we are in a state of joy, hopefulness, excitement, and all the positive emotions that we can think of. 

Do I believe this feeling can be guaranteed by having money? To some extent, albeit temporarily. You see, money can only liberate you from short or temporary pain. It can raise your baseline of happiness. But that only works when you have addressed all the internal pain you have. And by internal, I mean your emotions and your ability to regulate them. Because without this balanced state of wellbeing, you will still not be happy for the long term. Sure, you can solve temporal external problems but you definitely can’t mask the internal problems. Ultimately, happiness is found and built from within.

Can you share a personal experience where having money significantly contributed to your happiness?

Helen: If we are talking of personal experiences, then waking up every day knowing well I have some money to get any food I crave for significantly contributes to my happiness each and every single day. Imagine having to crave for something so bad but needing to put it on hold because you do not have a lot of money to get it! (I know, I love foood). Or getting to travel to wherever I want to contribute immensely to my happiness.

Daniel: Having money, or having the ability to generate an income can contribute to your happiness. I personally need money to pay for my gym subscription and all my bills. I need money to help other people financially. Money to buy me some time for myself to engage in all the positive things like meditation, journaling, reading, etc. It allows me to be able to exercise daily and that makes me able to regulate my emotions, which makes me happy. Money makes me lucky enough to be able to be kind to others financially. Money gives me the ability to buy back some time for myself, in the sense that I can pay others for jobs that will take a huge chunk of my mental energy. I can then take this time to engage in positive habits that ultimately make me happy. 

 Have you ever faced a situation where money did not bring the happiness you expected?

Helen: Yes, there are times when i get into a fight with loved ones and in trying to amend it, getting them a gift does not seal the hurt that you feel. I don’t know if you get me, or there are times i can have this annoying cold or be in some form of pain, and although helps me get medication or the kind of treatment i may need to feel better, i was in a state of pain and felt no happiness at all.

Daniel: No, none that I can think of. Let’s just say I don’t remember a situation in which I tried to use money to “buy” happiness. That’d go against everything I know and practice. I’m sure it’d be nice to say something like “all this money and I can’t be happy! WHYY??!”

In your opinion, does having enough money to cover basic needs ensure happiness?

Helen: I think so. It feels great not having to worry about how to get money to fulfill the most basic of your needs.

Daniel: Yes, absolutely. Having enough money to cover your basic needs spares you the worry, heartache, and stress of meeting deadlines. It gives you peace and calm, and also preserves your mental energy so that you can use it for more important tasks that make you happy. But it definitely isn’t about having enough money but more so about having the discipline to do what is right and at the right time. Add being disciplined to having enough money and that is a recipe for higher levels of happiness…at least in my opinion. 

How do you distinguish between the happiness derived from necessities and that from luxury expenditures?

Helen: I mean luxury goods are fabulous, it makes you feel good and gives you some level of social status which may contribute to your happiness but that is more like an added advantage. But the happiness from being able to get access to your necessities without having to struggle is genuine. Most of the time, we do not appreciate the moment and always look forward to when we are going to get the “big” things but these little things do count a lot.

Daniel: In as much as happiness is an internal project, your ability to make things easier for yourself externally can massively increase your levels of happiness. Being able to pay your rent, mortgage, and all your bills on time, will save you the stress of worry. When you are able to take care of your basic needs, you get the added benefit of a state of calm, peace, clarity. Then you can use this state to enhance your happiness. 

My view on happiness derived from luxury, may be limited due to a lifestyle of not exposing myself to “luxury” in its common meaning. I tend to view luxury experiences or expenditures as not better than a rather cheap or “free” one – with indifference. Therefore, I do not attach significant meaning to any experience that is derived from “luxury expenditures” more than I do a cheap or free one. All experiences, in my opinion – whether luxurious or cheap – have the capacity to be extremely meaningful. 

Do you believe that having money provides a sense of freedom and autonomy that contributes to happiness?

Helen: Absolutely, having money provides you with the opportunity to decide whatever you want to do. It gives you that sense of freedom and flexibility to decide whatever you want to do at your own convenience. And i don’t know what other freedom you need but this does it for me

Daniel: Of course, I agree that money can provide a sense of freedom and autonomy that greatly contributes to happiness. But not so much as we’d like to think it does. Yes, freedom and autonomy are the most desired things by humans but what do we seek freedom and autonomy from? Ultimately, wherever you go, there you are. If you need money to free you from externals, that is a worthy goal. But if you need money to be free from internal struggles, then having loads of money will not change or contribute to greater levels of happiness. 

Are there instances where you felt restricted or stressed despite having financial resources?

Helen: Haha noo, probably by your superiors but i have never had that experience so no for me.

Daniel: Hmm. No. I wonder what that would feel like. 

How do you see the role of relationships in achieving happiness, independent of financial status?

Helen: Relationships can make or break you. Relationships play a great role in achieving happiness if you ask me. You can be lonely and have all the money in the world, but people would only be attracted to you because of what you have and it may be difficult to distinguish who loves you genuinely or not, but although having money may spice up relationships, you can have really good people around you whilst not having enough money and that is all you really need. According to a 75-year-old Harvard study, people with strong interpersonal and close connections are happier, healthier and live longer

Daniel: I believe you have heard the most cliched phrase “humans are social animals.” And rightly so, we all are. We need social connections to survive in this modern world. And the science on happiness suggests that increased social connections make us happier, healthier, provides us with a general sense of wellbeing, and it increases our life span. Having or being connected to people is an underrated component of happiness. But it is more so important if the connections help grow the positive habits that increase your baseline of happiness. Having a partner you can meditate with, converse your daily struggles with, friends who make time for experiences, can massively improve upon your levels of happiness regardless of financial status.

How important is personal fulfillment in your overall sense of happiness?

Helen: Very important because I am able to identify my strengths and weaknesses and work on what I want to better for myself. True happiness stems from being able to do better for yourself, aligning with your purpose and extending grace to yourself as well.

Daniel: If personal fulfillment is the feeling of satisfaction you derive from doing something or achieving something meaningful to you, then I believe that is or should be the ultimate goal of life, of living. Living a purposeful life and knowing very well that what you’re doing is making a difference in the world – I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying and important than this. 

Do you believe that experiences and personal growth contribute more to happiness than material possessions?

Helen: Of course, the greatest thing you can do for yourself is personal growth. But I believe there still needs to be a balance though. A little material possession won’t hurt (the cash is also necessary). 

Daniel: I absolutely believe that experiences and personal growth contribute more to happiness and wellbeing than any material possession. Why? Material possessions do not change. They are not dynamic. They stay the same and therefore it becomes easier to get used to them – hedonic adaptation. Experiences, and personal growth never stay the same. They are changing, fleeting. And this is why they are so important. Our brains don’t get the chance to get used to them so we’re not easily bored by them.

A good massage will feel good in the moment as well as make you happy when you think about the experience months later. The feeling of progress in your personal life massively increases your happiness. There’s few things more satisfying than seeing progress or improvement in your life. Good experiences have the added benefit of making you happy when you think back at them months and years down the line. 

Can you share examples of non-material factors that significantly impact your well-being?

Helen: I know Daniel is definitely going to talk about exercise, but I will choose sleep!

Daniel: Well, I agree with you Helen. Exercise and sleep. Sleep is an underrated component of well-being. Investing in good sleep and experience will impact your well-being positively. 

Are there areas where your perspectives on money and happiness align? Where do they differ?

Daniel: My perspective on money is the same – it is a tool that can be used to enhance or improve upon happiness. Money and happiness align only when money is used to free up mental space for the development of positive habits. Money is only aligned with happiness if it is used in service of others (acts of kindness). Also, it is important to place more value on time than money. Or in my case, use money to “buy” back time. Research already suggests that prioritizing time over money is associated with greater levels of happiness.

My perspective on money and happiness differ if money is prioritized over time or happiness. This does not end up making you happy in the long term. 

Helen: This is  not a competition so I definitely agree with Daniel. Money has the power to transform our lives and make certain things relatively achievable and easier. But where the problem comes in is where people neglect the possibilities of other aspects of improving their lives and reject it whilst looking for the money. If there is a balance, where you work on your personal growth, relationships, purpose or any other aspects of your life, money just makes it much easier to navigate through the obstacles of life!

 In Daniel and Helen’s talk about money and happiness, they don’t agree on everything. Daniel thinks having money is like a tool that can make life better. Especially when used to help others or create time for positive things. Helen, on the other hand, believes money brings satisfaction because it lets her get what she needs. They both say money isn’t the only thing that makes people happy—experiences, personal growth, and good relationships matter too. In the end, they leave it open for readers to think about their own feelings on money and happiness. This only shows that it’s not a simple answer, and everyone’s story is different.