Happiness & Money

They say money can't buy happiness. On the flip side... Can happiness buy money? I have long believed this to be true. Not the money can't buy happiness part, because I am not sure if that is a truth or not. It would have to be based on individual perspective. If a person makes alot of money and spends that money soley on things that made him/her/others happy, then this would say to me that, yes, money, can indeed buy happiness. 
  
On the other hand, as I said, I have long believed that if a person chooses a career/ hobby/ profession/ lifestyle that engages what he/she truly loves and feels pationate about, then this will lead to a greater abundance.  

I think that the problem with the "Money doesn't buy happiness," is that, like everything in life, there is a fine line, there is an extreme. I know of plenty of people that have an above-average amount of wealth and they seems pretty darned happy. At what point does that that happiness resognates to become like a 'drug' and a need to want more and more, not for the sake of ones happiness, but for the sake of something else. Usually greed. Another term I grew up with is 'more is not always better.'

Maybe I just hit on a better understanding for myself. If somehow, we were able to see or be aware of these 'fine lines.' Perhaps we are. In counselling we teach those with anger issues to become aware of their 'triggers.' Could we not do the same in other aspects of our lives. As I type this, it is becoming very clear that this greed or hunger for money is an addiction. Perhaps this has long been known or understood, but not by me. 

The collective pursuit of happiness. The elusive pursuit of happiness. What is your happiness? Where is your heart? Your focus? Your connection? For Today remember that your home is love, not ambition, faith, not fear.  Perhaps this is a starting point to knowing what true happiness means to you.

In order to achieve happiness, from here, I would challenge, one would have to define what happiness is to oneself, individually. The Big Picture. What does that look like? What does that feel like? Would we determine how our happiness effects those around us? I say this because, if those around us are happy, does this not make us happier? I think then that would defeat the meaning of inner peace or happiness, it would then be based on another's perception.


What is the difference between Happiness and Inner Peace.
"Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy."

"Inner Peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. 

If, with every single thought, we asked ourselves, "is this going to bring me closer to my happiness?" and answered this with total honesty, would this change us? How would this change us?

Given all of this, is happiness a permanent state of being. I think that we go back and forward through different state of happiness, which is why we should define our own happiness.

I would challenge that perhaps Inner Peace is the best state of being.