Where money is the measure of success, people often think true happiness comes with a price tag. We believe that a certain lifestyle will create lasting happiness. But true joy often results from the simple, meaningful experiences that actually money can’t buy. Money does influence the way we feel. It can ease our tension by enabling us to provide for our needs. It also allows us to pursue our hobby, go on a holiday or spend time with our family. These things can surely make us happy for some time. But the joy will only last for a while, and soon we would begin searching for the next thing that can ‘satisfy’ us. Real happiness comes from inside us, not from the things we buy or have. It comes from experiences, friendships and from gaining a sense of purpose.

 

Hanging out with someone and laughing a lot, helping someone out, or even having some me-time are all priceless. It all comes down to living in the moment and grateful. Happier people notice what they have, not what they don’t. The cost of happiness, then, is not in money but time, attention and love. It costs us our pride, our measuring ourselves against others, and sometimes even our ego. It costs us not hiding who we are, being truthful with yourself and others, and the courage to stay present in life.