Happiness

Why are some people happier than others? Does money guarantee happiness? What does the Bible say about happiness, (materialism)? How will you ensure happiness in your future? These are some questions that will be addressed. First, why are some people happier than others? There are several reasons why someone may be happy and another person not. Someone's happiness may depend on knowing the truth or preserving illusions. Maybe happiness can come from living for the present, or from living for the future; from being with others or living in peaceful solitude. Some other factors of the difference in happiness among people may be high self-esteem, optimism, close friendships, and a meaningful faith. There are many other reasons. Stressful events also affect happiness; stressful events and circumstances in people's lives differ and vary greatly, therefore causing some people to be happier than others. Trauma, death of a loved one, or sickness may be all factors in one's happiness. These situations maybe change a person's mood, also making them less happy then another for a period of time. Someone's happiness or unhappiness tends to be temporary no matter what the cause of the initial mood may be. Moods may go up and down some more drastically then others, but over the long ride our emotional ups and downs tend to balance.

Second, does money guarantee happiness? Money equals happiness is a common misconception. Although many people believe that they would be happier if they had more money, research confirms that there is much more to well-being than being well-off. Some surveys also show that there is an increase in the amount of people that desire wealth from the late 60's until today. My opinion is that people are continuously searching for happiness anywhere they can find it, including in money. Most agree that money can not buy happiness; they also say that a little more money would make the, a little more happy. During the last four decades U.S. citizens buying power more than doubled, but the percentage of those who were very happy generally stayed the same. Money does not guarantee happiness.

Third, what does the Bible say about material happiness? The Bible has a lot to say with happiness through material things: Hebrews 13:5 states, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.""

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