Money can't buy happiness

1. I met quite a few very rich people in my life who were anything but happy (or admirable, if you looked below the surface). I work in my own company and some of my clients are very rich: owners of their own worldwide fashion companies which bear their name etc. Some of them are downright bizarre. One of the scions of an Italian Jewelry company that you have all heard of used to go in his bathroom in the morning and drop everything on the floor after he used it: his toothbrush, his toothpaste, soap everything.. he just could not be bothered... I spoke to his butler, who complained to me, so I know... just a complete pig... all his children are messed up as well emotionally, in my opinion, and I have seen them over the years and know them well.
2. Actually, of the people I met in my life whom I would like to be like (mentally), I can not think of even ONE single one amongst the rich ones that I met .... actually, I consider this one of the great blessings in my life: to have had the fortune to meet many of the people others fantasize about, and see what they really are like...
3. Somebody talked about Trump in this thread... I met him (once) as well.. another bizarre guy... not something I would aspire to, for sure... seems like a crass, desperate showoff who is obsessed with glitz and seems to see his (somewhat vulgar) women as possessions, like a lear jet or a condominium... listen to how he talks about Melanie "one of the greatest women in the world" versus his buildings...
4. IMO, Picasso had it right: He said "I want to be rich and live like a poor man"... why did he say that? Because he was smarter than most.
He understood that you can become trapped by your possessions, and once you do, you turn into an idiot and a slave...
5. Money is not good or bad, it is just energy... you can do great things with it, or you can become a complete cretin because of it.
6. John Ford, when people asked him "Mr. Ford, you have made a billion dollars (that was in 1910 or so), how much more do you need?" answered "just a little bit more"... what a sad statement, isn't it? That's all this giant of the 20th century could come up with?
7. Especially living in the US can make you think that money equals happiness, or at least satisfaction. The whole culture here is completely rigged up to brainwash you into that path, and the country has lost most of the values that once made it great. Now it is just a place to do good business, period... nothing more.... the values have shifted over the years.... Money is the highest one the culture now, it has replaced all others ... (hence many of the comments in this thread)...
8. This shift is clearly visible in public processes that are supposed to be about values: such as the whole process about the World Trade Center rebuilding... this was supposed to be the greatest nation in the world showing a response to the attack, showing their values as a contrast against bigotry and fanatism... and what happened? It has degenerated into a low level fight between a greedy developer and some power- hungry politicians... it's all about money, some slimy New York developer trying to grab a buck...

It has to be said that the US is not the only place which is going down this path, of course... it is just at the forefront of it.

Anyway, enough ranting...
 
'I can not think of even ONE single one amongst the rich ones that I met '

I think the self made rich are more within the 'cultured' limits than their kids and so on. One rich person to admire is Warren Buffet who used to drive his old cutlass till late 80s and live a simple life. Now ofcourse has armoured limos and body guards etc. as world has become more greedy and mean. Another good rich was Sam Walton of Walmart who would drive his beat up ford pick up most of the times.

There is a saying that 'universe is infinite out of your eyes i.e. externally and universe is infinite within your eyes i.e. thoughts and thus internally'. Those who have found the balance between external and internal have found a way to be happy.
 
Thanks toc...I could not have said it better. I agree with everything you have posted.


Those who have found the balance between external and internal have found a way to be happy.
 
If money can buy happiness,

Why do rich people commit suicide ?

Why do rich people become addicted to drugs?






Money does not buy happiness.

Do you think my mom was happy after she got my dad's life insurance ?


Happiness comes from within.



In the end, you will not be remembered for the money. It is about the lives you touched and the people you helped.
 
Quote from BabaNamKevalam:

happiness is another ZERO in net worth
bliss is 1
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Quote from coolweb:

I like this quote can you explain it,
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Coolweb,
It’s a Koan that I just made up.
Koan (Wikipedia): a story, dialog, question, or statement in the history and lore of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet that may be accessible to intuition.
 
I've read or heard of a few socialogical studies that state that the happiest people in America are the Amish families. Some of the reasons given for this are their strong multi-generational family togetherness, their freedom from the stress of material pursuits, their strong religious indoctrination, the simplicity of their lifestyle, and their social homongenity, etc. Due to their strong work ethic, few, if any Amish families are poor. This may suggest that the key to happiness might be the correct balance of social, religoius and financial well-being, as well as having a well-defeined, active purpose and living in a loving and supporting enviornment.

I can't remember knowing any poor person who was truly happy. I've also know a few super-rich people who were unhappy and mean s.o.b's. I've also known some very rich individuals who were very happy in their lives. I think it boils down to having a balance between social, spiritual and finanncial well-being. Each one of us, as unique individuals, are different from each other in that different things make up happy. I don't think you can generalize and say such and such will make you happy. It is an individual thing. About the only thing I will generalize is that poverty sucks. There's no good in it. Poverty is like starvation or suffocation.

As St. John says: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. " III John 1:2.
 
Quote from Vienna:


4. IMO, Picasso had it right: He said "I want to be rich and live like a poor man"... why did he say that? Because he was smarter than most.
He understood that you can become trapped by your possessions, and once you do, you turn into an idiot and a slave...
More...

That Picasso quote is right on. That's the middle ground, a person obviously needs enough money to be comfortable and have the key physiological needs taken care of. But the frivilous needs is what ends up destroying the person psychologically. NYC is filled with these people, some of them rely on drugs & alcohol to keep going, the other work themselves to death because it's never enough.
 
Quote from Vienna:


7. Especially living in the US can make you think that money equals happiness, or at least satisfaction. The whole culture here is completely rigged up to brainwash you into that path, and the country has lost most of the values that once made it great. Now it is just a place to do good business, period... nothing more.... the values have shifted over the years.... Money is the highest one the culture now, it has replaced all others ... (hence many of the comments in this thread)...


It has to be said that the US is not the only place which is going down this path, of course... it is just at the forefront of it.

Anyway, enough ranting...
More...

First - what a great thread ! I spent almost 20 years living in the US and could not make such discussion with anybody, including some college teachers.

I agree that money pressure in the US is tremendous, and it is getting this way in other places of the world (UK for example).
This is also very true that some rich people are dumb and bizarre. But this is also very true that some rich are intelligent and having great personality. There is some truth about "new money" syndrome, it is good enough to watch some of those pathetic individuals on TV. They think we all admire them, whereas many of us feel sorry for their hunger for public attention.

I agree that progress/struggle is natural part of life and this is what makes growing, running, thinking, building, destroying....
And there is no problem when some want to strive for money. However, there is a problem if those who want to fight for the money want to make everybody else being a part of their puzzle.
Most of them as just simple people who think that if they are greedy, everybody else in the world is.

I enjoy living in Europe now, mostly because of this reason, however I always say that both most interesting and creative discussion about American system you may find in America.
 
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