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Bernard White

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Should money (material gain and the things money can buy) be our goal? And if not, what should be?

Because I was watching these talks, and then brought their books, and found that there was no correlation between wealth and happiness beyond 75K a year.
Now this raises some interesting questions, like "what should our goal be" if happiness is not an end, but can become a mean. And even if we fail, we just synthesis happiness (For instance an equation in schools your taught is "work hard = money + rewards = happiness, but as psychology has proven that isn't really true at all)
Would be interested in what people would think! Because I feel that with this knowledge "working for money and the things money can buy" becomes rather useless.

Related Talks:
Topics: Being happy Habits of happiness happines happiness in body and soul happy life job that makes you happy
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    W. Ying 10+

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    Mar 17 2013: .
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    Our goal is to keep our DNA alive!

    Happiness is the tool for the goal.
    Money is a tool for the happiness.



    (See also the 1st article, points 1-3, 10, 14, at
    https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D&id=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D%21283&sc=documents).
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    Theodore A. Hoppe 200+

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    Mar 13 2013: This is the misunderstanding about the saying, "Money is the root of all evil."
    It is "The pursuit of money is...."

    Money is never the goal.
    We don't want money we want the things that money can buy.

    • Bernard White 10+

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      Mar 13 2013: I have changed the title to suit all of these statements more accurately.
      Because that is more what I meant! (The things that money can buy! But to do that, you require money. So in other words : Material gain) :)

  • Bernard White 10+

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    Mar 13 2013: It's interesting because all the comments here indicate that people shouldn't work for money or material gain. :)
    And should work for something greater than themselves (whether that be purpose, "Being good" or just have intrinsic motivation)
    But then why do you all work? (I mean you could argue so that to get enough money to pay for your bills! But then this is material gain in the literal sense!)

  • greg dahlen 20+

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    Mar 13 2013: I think our first goal should be to do good, and what is good can differ from person to person.
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    Fritzie Reisner 100+

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    Mar 13 2013: I agree with Kriszian in not knowing anyone who has acculmulation of money as a goal. Many seek an interesting life, a creative life, a life full of love, or a life of service or solving problems. Different combinations of ways of using energy give different people satisfaction, contentment, or a sense of elation. It doesn't have to be the same for everyone.
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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    TED Translator
    Mar 13 2013: why do you need approval of anyone? if you don't want money, don't get it. btw i don't know a single person that has money as goal. everyone has goals like bigger house, ability to travel, etc. they want money for those things. if you don't want a bigger house, don't want to be able to travel, and you don't have any other goals that require money, don't go for it. there is no need to overcomplicate things. you don't need to read a book to find out what makes you more satisfied.

    • Bernard White 10+

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      Mar 13 2013: Many people I know view that more wealth will bring you happiness, because it can buy you these "bigger houses, and the ability to travel". While I feel that this isn't so, and is just an illusion, and I felt that these "books" taught me better than anything (I mainly got those books because I was interested in the subject of what makes humans satisfied, and you would be surprised it's rather counter intuitive, if you ask me that is :) )
      I'm interested what do you think "our" (your) goal should be? (If not for material gain) :)
      I mean once you have your "bigger house" you will just re-calibrate happiness and change your goal to trying to get an even "bigger house". Hope I have explained this to a sufficient level.
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        Krisztián Pintér 200+

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        Mar 13 2013: for me, i want to create things. that brings me happiness. but i have to waste a lof of time acquiring stuff for my daily life. so if i get usd 100 million, i will be super happy, and do creative things all the time. bigger house or creative work ... who am i to tell what is valid? my choice is the latter, but that is just me.
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    Aaron Yang

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    Mar 13 2013: Personal preference. I've met a lot of people who are happy and content living the ideal suburban lifestyle. However, there are others out there who are never happy with where they are and are always in search for more.
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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Mar 13 2013: I am a simple person, and quite frankly have done quite well. I never set any goals. I set out to do the best I could with the opportunities given me. School is an opportunity to learn ... I accepted that challenge but it was not a goal. I wanted to live well ... that had to include health, family, and a means of support .... I took up that challenge.

    In short, Life is a journey. Each of these were weigh points along that trip. All the rest is in definations. I am very wealthy regarding I have excellent health and so do my family, We have a Home not a house. I am married to my best friend. I have lived to see my grandchildren suceed ... priceless.

    To many people go through life and never see or smell the roses.

    I wish you well. Bob.
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