How to buy happiness, why not spend money on experiences rather than things

The debate about whether money make people happy, not abated ever. And research devoted to this issue, could not give a clear answer. Only in the 70s Economist Richard Easterlin I discovered a paradox: money helps to become happier, but only up to a point. Once you enough for everything you need, the pleasure of the money is getting smaller, no matter how great or it was income.

Researchers at Cornell University have made a new attempt to find out if you can buy happiness. It turned out that it is possible, but the sheer amount earned on the mental well-being is not affected. Enjoy life help no money, and the right purchase.

Happiness - the human condition, which corresponds to the highest satisfaction of the internal conditions of its existence, completeness and meaningfulness of life, exercise their human purpose.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Money has a tendency to run out, even if you have billions of dollars in bills that few can boast. To buy on their hard earned real happiness, not the imitation of it, you need to carefully choose a purchase. Imagine that you have the opportunity to bargain. What images appeared in your mind? In the majority of people they are tangible: apartments, cars, plants, furniture, belongings.

We believe that the need to buy things that will be stored for a long time, and thus make us happy, it is necessary only to look at them or think about them. Dr. Thomas Dzhilovich working at Cornell University in the US, came to conclusionThat is a logical trap. Thinking that the pleasure of buying things you can get infinitely, we are making a mistake. It turns out that the joy of attending a concert or exhibition, a hike in the mountains or a trip to the conference much stronger and lasts longer than delighted with the new repair.

New things pleasing, but only as long as they are new

The main enemy of our happiness - an adaptation or habit. Dr. Dzhilovich nearly two decades studying how changing sensations when making a purchase. We spend the money we get in return for these things, and at that moment the joy is very strong. But time goes by, we get used to the fact that we have, the emotions go out and purchase does not cause joy: I want to buy another jacket, I want to find a bigger apartment, I want to get in the car powerful. Once again we spend on things, and they we're bored again.

In order not to fall into the vicious circle, the doctor advises Dzhilovich think twice before buying and invest in a new experience: to acquire new knowledge, to do sports or go on a trip.

I have a craving for "consumerism" are practically no, and the things I buy rare and out of necessity, but on impressions money I spend it with pleasure.

If I have a choice: buy a new phone, despite the fact that the old is working well, or buy a ticket to the pool for a year - I will choose pool, because to get used to the phone for a month, and stop paying attention to it, and the pool will be stable to please me three times week. I like to swim, I feel like resting and practicing my body, and I see some progress. These feelings are regular and far more pleasant than the short-term joy of the purchased phone.

I believe that to do something for the body and mind better than to buy a certain object, without being in it unnecessarily. Because the body and mind - it's you yourself, and there is a separate subject. Therefore the joy of it is usually short: a bit to play, and already wants a new one.

Oleg Viharev

Dr. Dzhilovich learned how habits influence our happiness. Respondents who participated in the study, it was necessary to tell you how to change their attitude towards shopping and acquired experience.

Initially, the joy was equally strong. But over time, bought things brought less and less satisfying. But the memories of the experiences and new skills, which have been invested in money, enjoy more, and their value only grew.

You can buy and store wealth. They will lie down and... and everything. Gradually, the excitement will come to naught. Things are long-lived, but happiness - fleeting matter. The longer serves us some thing, the stronger it is embedded in the background picture of the surrounding world, the easier it is to cease its notice.

Today a new car - your dream come true! Sparkles, roars, rushes. You will travel only on proven car, leaving it only covered parking, make selfie driving. And would not allow smoking in the cabin! After a couple of weeks late for an appointment, you jump behind the wheel in a dirty shoe. Six months later failed is parked bumper scratch and decorate. And then at the crossroads you prune some brand new jeep that something definitely cooler. After a couple of years, wiping cloth number, you take the car with the spontaneous parking near the house and go to a showroom for new emotions.

We get used to it that stays with us for a long time, and in this respect things turning into a routine and commonplace, strongly lose impressions and experiences. The longer the subject with us, the less we care. And any impressions become an integral part of our "I". Experience is not static, it accumulates varies according to our views. Things remain the same or deteriorate, and experience is built into us and forms the personality.

Happiness money can buy, but you can not keep

If joy is gradually melts even from a good purchase, what to speak about things that were not very good quality? Nothing but frustration, do not wait. But the experience, even negative, will benefit and satisfaction. One study showed Dzhilovicha if your impressions of the event were not rosy, it is necessary to talk about it with your loved ones that you trust. After analyzing unpleasant situations people give their experience much more appreciated. Remember how many ridiculous stories told in the company of friends, they began with clearly bad ideas.

Once the heavy rain has driven in a double leaky tent seven people. All seven were convinced that this is the most disgusting night in their lives. But a week later the unpleasant episode in the eyewitness accounts turned into a hilarious funny story.

About the fact that learning from mistakes, even embarrassing to repeat, and this is a key function of negative experiences.

Another reason that is worth paying for a new experience: the experience brings to others. You have much more in common with the person with whom you were jumping with a parachute than to the person who bought the same kitchen as you. Experience - it's always a reason to talk. We get it together with other people, and then share it with new friends, building a long chain of communication. Who are you more interesting to talk about: a graduate of the acting classes to which you have just recorded, or with unfamiliar visitor jewelry store?

I do not have and have never had a car, I have not bought an apartment, and I never buy them is not planned. I always spent only on the experience and travel. First, in the Crimea, then in other countries. I buy a new gadget is not because I want to stand out, but because I wonder how it will be used by persons. My hobbies - triathlon and the Ironman - it's an experience, my book - it's an experience. All this - the cost, do not bring the money, but I have something to say and something to be proud. It is important for me. And do not "own corner."

glory Baranskii

Rate your experience only you can. You can compare your home with others: which side windows are located across the street, what size of land from a neighbor what wonderful architecture from the Royal Palace... You can always find a reason to envy, if we draw parallels with similar things. And your experience will stand any test enviously and photos to Facebook.

Things are a lot easier to compare. How much is? How many carats? How many horses? How many meters? And now try to apply it to your experience. How many of your knowledge in grams? How much joy in horsepower?

Envy, from which it is very difficult escapePursues us much less, if we do not compare things. Of course, even on holiday, you can find a reason to envy: who is flying first class and stopped in a deluxe room, and someone is going to spend the night in the hostel. But negative emotions are much more expensive when compared to their counterparts bag with a bag.

How long should I earn to be enough for happiness

We must not forget that, in accordance with the Easterlin paradox wealth in the economy at a certain stage are synonymous with happiness. Even paradise in a tent is only available when the hut or even to build branches. But you are sure to spin the fourth floor is more important than learning how to build a stone?

World index of happiness over and over again showsThat people feel happy, not only in wealthy countries, but also in the poorest African continent and in the troubled South America. In Europe, the leading positions are occupied by the state, in which a well-developed education system and residents can maintain a balance between work and leisure.

I'm training. Their main tasks: to harmonize the inner world, the removal of subconscious blocks and rigs, the resolution problems of the past for a happy future. So, every second, who had to deal with (and maybe more), in varying degrees, fixated on money. And even in terms of elementary psychology can be seen that this race - proof of his importance, his abilities, at all of its existence.

In our world, money has come to mean so much that the number supposedly makes you tough, strong, intelligent. And I ask these people the question: "Imagine that you have all the material, what you have dreamed: money, cars, apartments, yachts, home appliances... But at the same time you were alone in the desert, there are no people around, and no one to show you all of your wealth. What to do? What would you wish for, then? ". It is easy to guess that all meet the same way: I would like to close was someone close, with whom you can talk, eat, drink, go camping, sleeping in a tent, traveling.

When people get rid of the obsession, "cut the dough" and begin to live simply, earning, but at the same time doing favorite things, smile never left their faces.

Victoria Efremova

How to overcome the Easterlin paradox and make the money work for our happiness? Gain experience, and not only material goods. Experience - a way to get the most for their money, no matter how broad or humble no matter your financial opportunities. This statement works not only on a personal level. Want to inspire employees and improve the process efficiency of the enterprise - give employees the opportunity to learn. You want to build a political or administrative career - make voters happy, helping them to get more experience.

Next time, thinking about how to spend the free amount, try to buy a little bit of experience and happiness. And remember that the experience is available for free.