The journal Science reported last week yet more evidence and another theory about why wealth does not make people happy: "The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory," one of its studies concluded. "People with above-average income . . . are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities."
Wait, there's more. "The effect of income on life satisfaction seems to be transient," the researchers added. "We argue that people exaggerate the contribution of income to happiness because they focus, in part, on conventional achievements when evaluating their lives and the lives of others."
Wow. Let's pause a moment to let all priests, nuns and anarchists take a bow and say, "I told you so!"
Gotta love that last bit. But I should keep this article handy when people look at me like I'm crazy for moving towards a life of greater simplicity and taking a vow of poverty.
4 comments:
I say, YAY FOR YOU! Still praying.
Yeeeees!Someone said it finally!:-)
True, true, true
However there are moments when you wish you had more money ... tho' they pass and you are even more convinced of the Way of "Voluntary Poverty" a Dorothy Day/Peter Maurin/ Catholic Worker concept
:) Thanks for the article and fun reflection. I picked up the article for my blog too.
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