this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2023
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Work Reform

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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I never said you didn't, but to clarify, usually you don't have to say it when you're happy. I guess unless you're doing the song and clapping your hands.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I just want to get rid of the whole saying. Money does buy happiness. People saying otherwise just don't want you to be wealthy

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

IMO the saying is more about how when you eliminate the struggle to acquire wealth, there's less meaning in your day to day life. I'm sure folks like Musk and Bezos for example are looking for something that makes them feel purposeful, like going into space. Not necessarily trying to enrich the lives of others.

I agree though that not having to worry about bills or putting food on the table is it's own kind of happiness. I think there's a healthy balance.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I think it is that and a bit about not letting envy of other people's wealth/property interfere with your ability to be happy, eg: keeping up with the Jones's. Obviously you can be wealthy and still not be happy (see Kurt Cobain, Robin Williams, etc) but for the vast majority I think the thing is that money, or specifically the lack of it, is the source of a quite a lot of unhappiness. Now, maybe if I had a million dollars, I'd still be a miserable bastard, but given that most of the problems I have now are either directly money related or significantly impacted by the lack of said money, I kind of doubt it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

With luck, it buys a state in which we can find happiness.

Is it possible to be happy without money? I'd say it's only possible for extraordinary people, not for the majority of us.

Is it possible to have money and still not be happy? Of course, many people have money but still feel empty, lonely, misunderstood, apathetic, bitter, regretful, etc. And many people have money, but they cannot be happy because their health is bad and it is not solvable, not even with their riches (e.g. treatment resistant depression, terminal cancer).

I'd say, for almost everyone, money is a necessary condition for happiness, but it is not a sufficient condition.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have money and am miserable lol. Congrats tho

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then go to therapy. You have the funds to buy happiness.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I’ve been going to therapy for 12 years. Try again

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Would you be less or more happy with less money?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Imo money can buy happiness to a point. Having financial security obviously affects your happiness, but anything further won’t necessarily guarantee more happiness.

So like, if I had less money I wouldn’t suddenly be sadder. But if I had so much less to the point where I couldn’t live securely, then yeah it’d affect my happiness.

So to answer your question, no, not inherently.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah kinda agree to that