On the way to the grocery store, I heard a conversation about relationships on talk radio.
One person asks, is it true that your happiness is controlled by your mind? The question was directed to the listeners, so I instantly considered the possibility. It is true that our happiness is controlled by our minds, but so many of us turn to things, situations, and people for happiness. I thought how great this topic falls into our relationship with money.
The majority, if not all of us have an intimate relationship with money. We believe that money will bring happiness, when it is the exact opposite. Money is just a tool that we use for consumption of various products. Money does not have feelings and in return, it cannot provide happiness.
During my journey of writing “EXIT: How to Leave Debt Forever”, I gained a better understanding of money. I too dedicated my life to money at one time. I believed that with money I could consume happiness. I viewed happiness as a product and not an emotion. Whenever I was having a bad day, I would run to the ATM and “withdraw happiness”. It became so severe that I began to work two full-time jobs to support my happiness. I know I gave at least 16 hours a day away to working, because in my mind I was achieving happiness.
In reality, I was having a bad relationship with money.
My relationship with money should have only been to use money, not to find happiness and definitely not love. Before I knew it, I was more concerned with increasing money than increasing my well-being. By giving at least 16 hours of my life away every day, I only had time to sleep. As time progressed, I had less and less happiness. I was destroying the joy of life to make a run for the lust of money. It got even worse, because whenever I had time to myself I would indulge in “things” to replace my loss of happiness. I would accumulate insane bills, because I know my sweetheart, money, would pick up the tab.
As I pulled into the parking lot of my local grocery store, I visualized finding happiness in things or someone. I realized that it was my mind that created the happiness. For some, you can have fun all by yourself. It is great to share your happiness with someone, but your happiness starts from within.
A great example is a homeless individual on the street. Picture the homeless person sitting next to a garbage can. The individual is depressed and in dire need of money, food, clothing, and a home. Now, imagine a million dollars sitting in that garbage can. The homeless person is still depressed and in dire need of money, food, clothing, and a home. The money didn’t change anything. If money naturally had that effect, the homeless person would’ve been happy in the presence of the money. It is not until the money is seen and mentally that person triggers happiness. This displays how we should view money. When we understand our relationship, we can eliminate being tied to a “dead-end” job, working multiple jobs, overspending, and destroying true happiness.
Read more posts by Nicholas Maze, finance expert. Nicholas is a blogger for JenningsWire.
