Money cannot buy happiness - Essay Example

First Institute Money cannot buy happiness Money has become a very important and essential part of life; yet it can’t guarantee happiness. Happiness is an internal feeling and hence cannot be acquired from external sources. This discussion evaluates the place of money in one’s life and what it can earn. Based on these, it highlights that money can only buy materials, but not happiness; attract people, but not true friends; it cannot earn peace of mind and good health, which are the sources of happiness.

Experienced people profess that happiness comes from within, and not from external sources which are mere attractions; money is one of these and usually holds the highest priority in many people’s lives. But, this is paradoxical as money can’t really buy happiness. It is written in many spiritual texts that money can only buy the source but not true content of happiness. For example, money can buy a house but not a home filled with love and affection; it can buy a bed but not sleep; it can buy companions but not friends.

Money is required for satisfaction of material wants, and there is no end to human wants. In the race of achieving more and more material needs, man tends to forget to be happy. Man is a social animal and cannot live in isolation. Rich men attract people, but hardly have any friends; or, tend to lose friends in due course because their focus is towards making more money rather than to give time to their beloved ones and value their affection (Jet, 15). As a result, men having money become lonely with no people to care for by the end.

Such life is certainly not a happy one. Happiness lies in being cared for and caring for others. Money cannot prevent one from losing his/her life; only love and affection can be cherished even after the loss.Jet Magazine quotes that the psychologist, Dr. Lewis-Jack believes that real happiness is ‘peace of mind, good health and being content with yourself and where you are at this point in your life; having goals and a willingness to work toward achieving those goals’ (p.18). This is very true because chasing after money will affect one’s health in the due course of time, which will necessitate treatment and care.

For this, the person will have to rush to health care where he will receive care upon paying money; but, this care will not be original and true to his/her internal satisfaction. Secondly, chasing after money causes mental and emotional stress; this will manifest in the form of quarrels, misunderstandings, depression, anxiety and fear. Greed for money will also make men inhuman towards fellow men causing destruction, hatred and fear. This will not only have a bad impact on the person but also spread its ill effects on other members of the family and society.

In conclusion, money should be treated as a source to make life simpler but should not be regarded as the source of happiness. Happiness can be earned through good health, internal content, work and achievement of aims; earning friends through good actions and valuing others affection. Works citedJet Magazine. Is it true that Money can’t buy happiness? The weekly source of African American political and entertainment news. Johnson Publishing Company. Vol. 94, No. 11, Aug, 1998, pp: 14-18.