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The Price of Happiness (2024)

happiness-science.org

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Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#11

Post by hankbond »

This may be a very tone deaf thing to say, but what really helps me is to just tell myself I am happy. It's certainly not fool-proof when faced with genuine problems, but I often find myself unhappy or annoyed for no particular reason. In those moments I just tell myself I have everything I need and life is great, and then it just feels better.

That said all the findings that these studies seem to gravitate towards like close relationships also align with my experiences as being powerful effectors.

Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#14

Post by throw0101d »

yboris wrote: post #13

A classic paper worth a read: If money doesn't make you happy, then you probably aren't spending it right by Elizabeth Dunn, Daniel Gilbert, & Timothy D. Wilson https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S10577... Includes explicit recommendations (even in the short abstract)!

Books on happiness (research) have become a bit of a thing in recent years, but Dunn seems to have published one of the earlier ones in 2013:

* https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803098-happy-money

I'd also recommend Morgan Housel's various writings:

* https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231148075-the-art-of-spe...

He had an interesting observation: the popular saying "don't spend money on things, but on experiences" only goes so far. Spending on things can bring about experiences: the big house/cabin/cottage per se may not bring you happiness, but if it's a place that you can gather family and friends, that can bring happiness/meaning. His first car didn't bring him happiness because it was a car (and not even fancy), but because of all the road trips he did with his friends in it.

Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#15

Post by asdfman123 »

gib444 wrote: post #8
throw0101d wrote: post #2

Harvard has been running longitudinal studies for several decades: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study and their findings lean towards good relationships with family and friends are highly correlation with happiness, health, and many aspects of financial success. The released a book summarizing many results a few years ago: * https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61273746-the-good-life * https://archive.is/http…

> and their findings lean towards good relationships with family and friends are highly correlation with happiness, health, and many aspects of financial success The daily reminder about the pains of autism and depression :/

I read a great quote by someone, maybe Nietzsche, suggesting that when you encounter that which you struggle with you tell yourself the equivalent of "hell yeah, this is my struggle."

This is prime time. This is what I'm currently on earth to solve. I'm going to enjoy the process of trying to defeat it. Amor fati.

Of course, you don't have to think that way. But you're going to have one problem or another, either way, and that mindset shift just makes everything feel less hopeless and more in control, even if the problem persists for now.

Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#16

Post by asdfman123 »

marcuskaz wrote: post #5

Every Thursday, the ice cream man comes down our street. The price is usually around ~$20 to buy happiness for a family of 4.

Hi, effective altruist here. I'm going to start a fund to buy your family $50,000 of ice cream a year to maximize total happiness.

Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#17

Post by DaveZale »

Great analysis, but I would probably add that most (but not all) of those who end up with the six- and seven- figure salaries are smarter, more well-connected and socially adjusted, optimistic etc. Most _not_ all. And some are just really good bullshitters, of course.

Ever been to a third world country and seen happy people who make just a couple hundred bucks a month, yet are very healthy and happy? I have. It's very life changing.

Who are the historical figures that you revere the most? Did their positive influences upon your life originate from making and having money?

Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#18

Post by MattSayar »

throw0101d wrote: post #14
yboris wrote: post #13

A classic paper worth a read: If money doesn't make you happy, then you probably aren't spending it right by Elizabeth Dunn, Daniel Gilbert, & Timothy D. Wilson https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S10577... Includes explicit recommendations (even in the short abstract)!

Books on happiness (research) have become a bit of a thing in recent years, but Dunn seems to have published one of the earlier ones in 2013: * https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803098-happy-money I'd also recommend Morgan Housel's various writings: * https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231148075-the-art-of-spe... He had an interesting observation: the popular saying " don't spend money on things, but on experien…

I just finished reading this book while taking a train for a weekend vacation. To your point, he mentions that if spending money doesn't make you happy, it's because you're spending it on the wrong things. You shouldn't spend money to get the respect of others, because it's fleeting, causes envy, and is the fast food of getting respect. You need to spend money in ways that give you new experiences until you discover what kind of spending DOES make you happy.

Re: The Price of Happiness (2024)

#19

Post by toast0 »

3pm wrote: post #3

> What is the shape of the relationship between money and happiness, and what are its implications? 1. money != income. 2. Zip codes. 3. Age. 4. Social class. a) 65 year old professor living in Woodside, CA, with a net worth of $250,000K b) 35 year old HVAC business owner living in Fresno, CA, with a net worth of $2,000,000 First is poor, second is rich, but the study conflates both into the same bucket if they both…

> but the study conflates both into the same bucket if they both make, say, $400K/yr

Annual income is easy to measure, net worth isn't. People like to measure things that are easier to measure. :P This is part of how 'millionaire' has gone from 'someone who has a million dollars' (for some value of has) to 'someone who has a million dollars of income per year'

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