Can money buy happiness? Search this question on the internet and you will see millions of opinion-filled articles, textbooks, and even studies. The mass media has convinced the majority that wealth leads to happiness. This is why millions of people around the world are looking for various ways to increase their wealth. Yet, there is really no concrete answer to this question.
Money can surely help in achieving goals, and living a more enjoyable life, but it doesn’t guarantee satisfaction. Have you ever set aside your free time to make extra money? You are not alone; millions of people actually did.
While some research shows that wealthy individuals tend to be happier, sacrificing free time for money can actually bring negative effects. Some studies suggest that prioritizing money sometimes sabotages true happiness.
There is no doubt that money can sometimes buy happiness, but wealth is just a piece of a puzzle. Shifting your focus to things that matter as well will help you complete the puzzle of fulfillment one by one. To do that, you need to identify the cause behind your dissatisfaction despite bagging numerous awards. Here’s why you don’t feel fulfilled in life:
Loss of Self-Identity
We live in a society full of judges who dictate to us what should we become based on school or job performance, and even on relationship behavior. Nowadays, people of all kinds— rich or poor— can connect online to get a glimpse of each other’s lives. This promoted the already hypercritical society we live in.
Are you a people-pleaser? Do you often want to be on the good side of other people? There is nothing wrong with that. After all, we all just want to be accepted. However, if you live your life in the opinion of other people, you will find yourself at the mercy of their judgment, losing your self-identity in return.
Remember this: No matter how much effort is exerted just to be accepted every single time, you will not always be ideal. Some people will always expect and demand something “better” from you. If you will keep up doing what others want, there would be no room left for your own identity to come out.
Uncuff your true self. Give yourself a break and ponder on who you really are, and what you really want.
Lack of Purpose
Maybe you are thinking that your purpose is to work hard in order to put food on the table and afford the things you want to have in life, but there’s more to a purpose than these common superficial things. Without finding your true purpose, you will always feel unfulfilled and unsatisfied even when you take possession of all the good things this life has to offer.
It is way easier for fulfillment to come around when you have a defined purpose to bravely live through. May it be as simple as helping people in your community, getting married, having children, or starting your own business.
Sense of Guilt
Mistakes of the past can’t be undone even if you revive its memory over and over again. I know it is not so simple to overcome the guilt of your shameful past, but you will never fully enjoy life if you bring such baggage inside your head. Everyone has their own story and version of failure to tell, and if everyone will live their lives feeling guilty, the world might have been filled with will crestfallen individuals right now.
Recognize all thoughts you can’t seem to get over with, accept them for what they are, then slowly let go of them. No human is exempted from mistakes, all made one. But if you are robbing yourself of happiness because of the past, you are committing a big mistake.
Embrace all of your flaws, be free, and forgive yourself for all the shameful and despicable memories. Learn to let go of the past.
Lack of Meaningful Relationships
The absence of meaningful relationships might be the reason behind your unfulfilled life. Relationships don’t always mean a romantic partner, but the people who surround you. Somewhere in your heart, you must have felt once that there are so many people around you whom you don’t share intimacy with.
Generally, we come across two types of relationships in our lives— the positive and the negative.
Negative relationships are often abusive, toxic, destructive, and empty, while positive relationships are productive, healthy, and meaningful. You have to find the latter and invest more time with those people. Meaningful relationships are not about the number of people who are there for you when things are all doing well, it is about those who stayed and willing to stay with you in the rollercoaster of life.
Humans are highly sociable beings. Although the sense of independence is often praised in this generation, it is actually the connections we made with other people that make us feel better to move forwards in life with delight.
Consider putting up a small circle with people with whom you can share closeness. People with whom you can freely share every fear that you have, and insane ambitions you dream of. But you still need to be selective of the people you open up with. Make sure they will promote growth, correct you if you are wrong, and will not betray you when things get rough.
Lack of Patience
When we are younger, we have been continually thought of having patience as a virtue. However, we often end up easily distressed being stuck in traffic, or while in a waiting line. However, there is a beauty to it. It is actually the wait that makes us see what’s worth it or not.
Catching up with the rapid movement of today’s world can be so frustrating. Everyone seems to be in the fast lane in their career, relationship, and success. Hence, several people tend to run at the same pace as others, just to find themselves exhausted as a result of impatience. Try doing things slowly, focusing on your own pace and not on others.
Do not make any decisions on a whim. Study the situation thoroughly before coming up with the right conclusion. Make a conscious effort to exercise patience while devoting your energy to meet your goals.
How to Find Fulfilment in Life?
Fulfillment doesn’t always come expensively. You don’t need to have the latest iPhone model that Apple had just released, the luxurious limited edition designers’ bag, and other material things this life can offer.
Life fulfillment can be found in things as simple as letting go, making small positive changes, keeping things simple, practicing gratitude, and being persistent. Engage yourself with activities and people with whom you feel a strong connection.
Practice giving. Although there’s completely nothing wrong with keeping your money to invest for your future, you might find sharing them with others more satisfying.
Never think that you need to have millions on your bank account just to be satisfied with life. There is no way you could take all your possession as a lasting source of happiness. In fact, it is the relationships you forge and the lives you impact that might be your greatest legacy.
Improving yourself even just about 1% each day will make you 37 times better than the day you started. Overthrow all possible reasons why you don’t feel fulfilled, and live life with no regrets.
