The powerful message from The Joy of Financial Security is that we can cultivate greater happiness and financial security by making some intentional changes in our lives.
Although money does not buy happiness, it definitely impacts our happiness. Having money can provide us with the freedom to live our lives the way we choose. Positive psychologists have conducted many research studies to see what can increase our happiness. Our relationships with family and friends are always at the top of the list. Ed Diener, Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois, has devoted his entire career to the study of Positive Psychology and happiness. Professor Diener summarizes much of his research by saying “family and friends are crucial – the wider and deeper the relationships with those around you the better.”
Often, we are so busy with our chaotic schedules that family and friends get shortchanged. We need to remember that spending money on experiences is much more powerful than spending money on “things”. Experiences that involve our family and friends are incredibly rich in terms of increasing our happiness.
Think honestly about your relationships with your family and your friends. Write down your thoughts. Do you want to change any of the relationships? If you do, list a few specific actions you will take this week to improve the relationships. For example, you may decide to call your family (if they live in another town), to send them flowers for no reason except to let them know that you love them, to write a hand-written note to a friend who lives far away, to invite a friend (in your town) to lunch, or to call a neighbor just to keep in touch. Just do one thing this week, and see how it feels. You will find that you will be personally rewarded by your action, and you will also know that you brightened someone’s day.