undefined | Better HN

0 pointslotsofpulp3y ago0 comments

> That's why, no matter what financial windfall you may experience, give it 6 months and you'll be just as miserable (or worse) as you were before. But because you got a high off of it initially, you keep pursuing more and more, always convinced the next upgrade in your life is what will do the trick. But it doesn't. All you're doing is raising the bar for what it takes to make you momentarily happy.

I am pretty sure someone who has no security of shelter/food/water/healthcare/education/legal who gains those securities is happier than before they had those securities.

At least I am. It is nice being able to sleep knowing I don not have to worry about my basic needs, and being able to walk away from tasks I do not want to do.

0 comments

synu3y ago

Very much the same here. I grew up without security of those things either, and never quite managed to lose the appreciation or happiness in finding a career in tech that pulled me out of that. Buddha-like dispassionate observation of my situation wasn't really an option, or at least I wasn't capable of it.

Something else that helped, I think, is that when I did have a life-changing windfall (a company stock actually paid out) I didn't change anything in my life. I just use it to do relatively humble but satisfying things, like family vacations that I wouldn't have had access to before. I imagine if I had blown it all on parties or something I'd have had major ups and downs, but having it be a source of stability and little happiness bubbles released over a long period of time has been really positive.

pid-13y ago

I often think about the law of diminishing returns. My finances had a few inflection points that improved my life tremendously:

- Left the violent neighborhood I grew up at

- Was able to eat real food every day

- Started being able to save money

- Stopped using public transport

- Got a place for myself

- Got a job with great work life balance

Now, every extra cash I make improves my peace of mind, as my biggest fear is being poor again. I don't think any extra luxury will ever make me happier than the points I outlined above did.

creakingstairs3y ago

I agree. When I was counting every dollar to survive, I was a nervous wreck. I had no capacity to be happy. Now I can buy whatever I want during grocery without caring. I’m not necessarily happier, but I have the capacity to be happy.

But I’m guessing what the OP meant was after basic affluence is met(which probably varies wildly by person), then more money does not correlate with happiness. Which I would also agree with.

nickelcitymario3y ago

You and others are quite correct and I misspoke: It's hard to experience happiness if you're worried about your basic survival. A few years ago, it was found that an average of $70k in North America was the cut off, where anything above that has little to no impact.

While I stand by the contention that virtually nothing will provide sustainable happiness in the long-term, existential problems (lack of food, shelter, or love) can certainly get in the way.

Likewise, experiencing chronic pain will continue to impact your ability to enjoy life.

But!

The mind does have an incredible ability to adapt. Ask anyone experiencing chronic pain and you'll find they have a higher pain threshold than most. Likewise, those who have been poor their whole lives find poverty to be less traumatic than those who've had a "fall from grace" and have to adapt to sudden poverty. But adapt they will.

The mind is constantly trying to return to the middle. So if you're trying to maximize happiness and minimize suffering, know that you're working against your own biological wiring. Good luck with that!

nottorp3y ago

I think there were a few studies that showed a correlation between income and happiness... until a certain point when money stopped helping.

Guess it stops mattering when you attain some kind of financial peace of mind.

fendy30023y ago

And after I've learned about four noble truths in Buddhism, I began to appreciate my situation and become averagely happier than before.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse