I am planning to research three sub questions that are based within my theory which is “What affect does money have on our happiness and fulfillment in life?”. So far, It has been revealed that it is a common concept that many are taught a young age. It is seen that money can only buy you so much, when some things can not be seen as a value within money. Some may disagree with this statement and state that money provides them with all they need, but some tend to agree that happiness can not be bought. I am wanting to research and find out how much does the value on money affect peoples lives on a daily basis and how far does the statement “money doesn’t buy happiness” reach.
- How do different ways of spending our money impact our sense of fulfillment and happiness in life?
- Does the amount of money control the amount of fulfillment in our lives?
- What other factors can contribute towards our happiness and what role do they play when money is not considered?
- How do different ways of spending our money impact our sense of fulfillment and happiness in life?
Money can be spent in so many different ways, such as shopping or even donations. By determinizing where our money is spent, does it help us gain happiness and fulfillment in our lives? We have seen that money seems to help increase happiness at a certain level however, it is seen that money is more important when we have more of it. I chose this sub question because I was wondering whether where the money is being spent is a key factor is what results in our happiness. Many enjoy spending money on experiences, valuable items, other people, or even donations, and this leads me to wonder which of these factors lead to such fulfillment in life. This is helping me determine if having ownership of money is determining our happiness or where it is being spent. This can also show that fulfillment can come from a connection and purpose or the factor where money leads to ownership.
2. Does the amount of money control the amount of fulfillment in our lives?
I chose this questions mainly because it elaborates on the concept where “Does having more money = more happiness?.” Everyone knows that dealing with financial stress is not ideal nor the idea of being in debt. It is obvious that lacking that stress can help our lives but I continue to wonder if it is resulting in happiness. People that often make the average income level are able to cover the basic necessities which can help them avoid financial stress; however if they had extra income would that confirm they would have a better well-being. This question I have chosen explains that the relationships between our money and happiness is not always unlimited. It can help me determine whether the amount can lead to how we feel and/or if the amount we have will start having no affect/making a difference.
3. What other factors can contribute towards our happiness and what role do they play when money is not considered?
Things such as relationships, growth within our lives, and purpose can contribute to our happiness a lot on its own without the factor of money. It has been known that people can find happiness in things they do such as work, helping others, or being a part of a community regardless of the income they are taking home. I chose this question because I wanted to determine if people with less finances were able to be as happy/or more fulfilled than people with higher incomes. This question relates to my main questions because it also suggests that there are other factors that come into play with our happiness such as our emotional and social well-being. We will see that these factors come into play and that they will help lead us to satisfaction within our lives. We can begin my understanding and learning about the affect wealth has overall on the quality of our lives and not just happiness.
Some websites I can use to help me better my understand and answer my sub questions are:
https://hbr.org/2020/09/does-more-money-really-makes-us-more-happy
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/money-buys-happiness-study-finds-rich-are-happier-research/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_money_changes_the_way_you_think_and_feel
My main question, what affect does money have on our fulfillment and happiness in our lives, encourages me to better my understand and reflect on what brings me happiness. It leads me to spend the time and think what truly makes me happy whether it includes finances or not. As I plan for my future, I also think about what I want to study and what role income may play. This continues to challenge my idea whether money is the goal or happiness for my future when joining the work force. By understanding the deeper connections between things like relationships and experiences, it can help me better myself and make smarter choices for my future. This can help me live a better life in the future that is more balanced and focused on the well being of myself, rather than the large sum in my bank account. For my community, this question helps show what is the main goal in life. In our society people are often obligated to feel the pressure of chasing money and status to remain a picture in the communities. By more people understanding my question, it can lead to people prioritizing their emotional well-being rather than the concept of money. This can also help encourage many to focus on the subjects they lack, such as: relationships, experiences, or a purpose, rather than material possessions such as a luxury car. This kind of research can lead to many receiving the support they needed, a less financially competitive community, and lastly a happier community overall.
