Can Money Buy Happiness?

Thoughts

As I sat drinking my coffee & watching my favorite news program this morning, sorting through emails & to-do lists, a segment on the rising trend of minimalism caught my attention.

Minimalism

Minimalism is the focus on simplicity– cutting things down to the essentials. Recently, it’s been catching my eye everywhere. (Barefoot running, anyone?) Whether it appeals to me because of the movement itself, or because practicing it would eliminate the need to step over piles of crap in my office & closet, I’m not sure. But either way, I’m listening.

Minimalism is about searching for the meaning behind the question, “can money buy happiness?” It’s less about yes or no, and more about the relationship between consumption & money.

As they said on the Today Show:

Are you buying shoes to collect shoes, or to have an experience in them?

Several years ago I spent 2 consecutive summers abroad in third world countries. I absolutely, positively, remember being floored by how happy these people were– without anything. Even the smallest of children didn’t have toys or dolls to play with- they were fine with sticks and wrongs. Better than fine, actually- truly happy.

I remember thinking to myself that I had to bring this newfound observation & it’s impact home with me.

Well, it’s one thing to proclaim you don’t need “things” when you’re in a country where nobody has anything. But to come back to the US, where the amount of things people have is almost inconceivable, the idea of cutting back slowly slipped away.

Now that I seen minimalism popping up everywhere, I’m drawn back to the idea of simplicity. Now, I’m not ready to toss all my belongings out the window, but certain aspects of the movement appeal to me greatly, and I’m hoping to incorporate those things into different areas of my life as I find (or make) the opportunity.

Everett Bogue hit the nail on the head for me with his ebook Minimalist Business. He has an ebook about minimalist life in general (heck, his whole blog is about minimalism), but that one didn’t really resonate with me. The business one, however, did.

Perhaps it stood out because I just opened the virtual doors to my own business, but it’s something that can be applied to so much more than business & work. Even blogging these days is seen as a “business”; even if not in the money sense, in the approach.

The idea of minimalizing & simplify just makes me breathe a little sigh of relief.

If you’ve been reading for a bit, you might know what I think of the answer to the question in the title of the post….but what do you think?

Can money buy happiness?

P.S. If simplifying your life & work sounds appealing to you, I encourage you to buy Minimalist Business. You won’t regret it. (And yes, that is an affiliate link.)