The price of happiness is less than $125 000

November 1, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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In a study which surveyed almost 3000 Australians between 2002 and 2011 it was discovered that money can buy happiness, as long as you don’t have too much of the stuff. Once you hit $125 000 your satisfaction with life starts to slide. I guess that I should be pleased that I’m a long way from reaching the peak of that slippery slope of dissatisfaction.

Research from psychometric testing company Onetest found people who earn between $100,000 and $124,999 a year are the happiest, with 86 per cent of those earners saying they are satisfied with life.

But the satisfaction rate starts to drop for those who earn more than $125,000, and again for those who earn more than $150,000. – News.com.au

I can understand that people are feeling a little less anxious if they’re earning reasonably well and aren’t one emergency away from total financial ruin. I know that having certain knowledge that you’re able to put food on your family’s table would ease the stress levels. I also acknowledge that being able to buy a few extras for yourself and even have enough to give to good causes would make life comfortable but can money really buy happiness?

I suppose the other question is whether life is really about the pursuit of our own happiness. Even if money could make us happy, which I doubt it can do in any deep and lasting way, is that really what we’re aiming for in life?

Obviously, happiness is a good alternative to feeling miserable all the time but deep joy is something that can sit inside us during the good and bad times.

What do you think? We spend a lot of our time chasing a few extra dollars but will we be any happier or better off if we attain that extra cash? Will extra money add extra meaning to our lives?

I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything. – Philippians 4:11-13



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Ensuring Unhappiness

December 15, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
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Do you want to stay unhappy? Do you want to be dissatisfied with your life?

It’s unlikely … but your actions might suggest that you’re working towards sustained unhappiness. There may be thoughts or actions that are holding you back from a fuller, happier life. It’s possible that you’re setting yourself up for failure and you don’t even know it.

Royal Farris has quoted author, David Jeremiah, in his article List That Will Guarantee Unhappiness.

Here are just four of the ten things that they suggest can rob you of a joyful, happy life.

  • Make little things bother you; don’t just let them, make them.
  • Get yourself a good worry–one about which you cannot do anything but worry.
  • Be right, always right, perfectly right all the time. Be the only one who is right and be rigid about your rightness.
  • Take personally, with a chip on your shoulder, everything that happens to you that you don’t like.

Are you sabotaging your own happiness? Why not read the rest of Royal’s article and then make some purposeful goals for a truly happy new year.



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