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Let’s get it straight – happiness cannot be bought.

However that is not the answer to the question which is – If 'Happiness' Were To Be Sold, How Much Would It Cost?” To get straight to the answer – happiness is free!! Therefore, it would cost nothing. It is impossible to place a monetary value on happiness.

Let's consider these 2 analogies:

1. If you are standing by the ocean would you pay for salty seawater. The answer is no – it is readily available if you want it. It is the same with happiness. When we figure out that we always have happiness with us - if there were priced - we would think it is ridiculous to pay for it.
2. _The air is free - it is a precious commodity although it is probably not immediately consider as such. Only when there is a threat or when we are at risk of losing it – then we realize its true value. Threats such as fire and smoke or when the air is foul/polluted etc. The same is true for happiness - a precious commodity worth savoring especially when we think we could lose it.

If one cannot put a price on happiness, so it is priceless - then it cannot be sold either; but is that true?

After some thought I decided that happiness can be sold.

Before I tell you how - I will mention why some believe they can buy happiness. You have heard it all before but it is still worth mentioning briefly to put things in perspective.

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Can happiness be bought?

Media's impact
Many people have a goal to be rich, famous or to work harder for high achievement. They are constantly bombarded by media and believing that material things are the key to their happiness.

• Advertisers are very good at perpetuating this belief, making people feel that happiness is a luxury item: that car, a whitening toothpaste, expensive perfumes, a bigger house, fancy clothes, a boat, shiny diamonds etc.
• Advertisements feed in to people’s fears regarding fitting in as in the end we all want to belong - to feel accepted or acceptable.

However, after getting these items - they just become possessions but did not change one’s their emotional state – the so-called happiness was momentary.

Money’s impact
Once the basic Maslow’s needs (food, shelter, clothing, sex, sleep, security etc.) are met is that enough for happiness? A research showed that most people do not worry about paying their bills after earning at least $75K. Being able to pay the bills is important – it give comfort, a sense of security hence less worries. More than $75K did not improve the emotional quality of life but less money cause more stress. However, life occurrences such as divorce and sickness had less of an impact on people with more money than on poorer people. The authors suggested that more than $75K did not enhance their ability to do what mattered most for instance enjoying leisure time and spending time with friends and family.

Can happiness be sold?

Yes. Although happiness cost nothing - zero monetary value - it has an emotional value since anything that compromises or reduces our level of happiness is a cost.

A few examples where happiness comes at a cost – usually freedom, time or money:

• A job that you hate but you remain there because it pays the bills or it is in your comfort zone.
• A car or house that you cannot afford which creates debt.
• Fake friends you hang around but do not like.

So what is true happiness?

It is a state of being which cannot be sought or bought. It is inside us – it is in our souls. It is joy and appreciation of what one has and the experience of positive emotions. It is not that the happy person is protected from the all the stressful occurrences of life. It is how that person sees and processes negative emotions – it might be seen more as an opportunity rather than evoking sadness.

Social connections
A 75-year Harvard study found that social connections to family, friends and community keeps us happier and healthier. Why? Because knowing that we are loved and cared for provides solace and a happier mental state of being. The quality of relationship matters too, for instance: high conflict marriages without affection is worse than being divorced. How satisfied one is in ones’ relationships is a great source of happiness. Good relationships affect our minds and hence our bodies. If we are surrounded by people we can count on when the going gets tough – that is what matters. In the end we are social and tribal beings as sense of belonging is important for our well being.

Here you will find the Ted talk of Robert Waldinger discussing the Harvard study.
Harvard study}(

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In today society, we are often looking for quick fixes, however here are a few impactful activities which cannot be overstated:

• Spending time with family and friends during good and difficult times;
• Long talks, laughs, walks or date night with one's partner;
• Holding hands with your children or a loved one;
• Enjoying nature.

These simple activities, et al, will increase our happiness quotient. These are the some of the things that would miss or wish for if we do not have them any more or cannot do them.
Maybe this is the simple key to our happiness - the things we will miss the most. They are the things that made us most happy - the things that enhanced our inner joy. MoMoGrOw

As I wrote it - it looked like a quote to me. :grinning:

What do you think about the thoughts I shared?