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| The Price of Happiness |
When we are young we become fixated on the belief that happiness is the product of financial wealth and that all our worries and difficulties will all be solved if only we can reach out and grab the gold ring. Having this mentality many tend to sell their souls in order to reach that fabled level of happiness. Working careers that leave them empty and then trying to fill that emptiness with material things that demonstrate their level of success. Because they have associated “success” with “happiness” and “happiness” with financial wealth, they never really reach that utopia called “true happiness”.
I was a single parent of three children struggling to raise my kids the best way I knew how; by hard work and sacrifice. Needless to say I was never financially wealthy and the material things I had were often second hand items I found at yard sales or consignment stores. As each of my children moved into adulthood and out into the world on their own I regarded myself as successful and happiness was more than a passing thought.
Happiness is, in my opinion, contingent upon very simple beliefs. Staying true to who you are and understanding that success has no monetary value to it. When a person reaches this level of happiness, anything they do from that point forward is based on the fundamental understanding of what happiness is contingent on. When you can grasp this mentality all your relationships and business endeavors will add to your happiness and will not allow you to sacrifice who you are in order to reach your dreams and goals.
When I began doing free lance writing I knew I had a gift for words and a moral compass that would direct me to stay true to myself. Having struggled financially most of my adult life but being able to maintain a high level of happiness helped me to appreciate the value of financial gain. It wasn’t that I desired to be wealthy beyond words; I desired to be comfortable and without worry. Wealth, to me, is having what you need as well as being able to have what you desire. What I found when I began writing for clients on Elance.com was the financial ability to have both my needs and desires met without having to peruse employment that would deflate my level of happiness. Doing a job or working in a career that you really enjoy is an important contingency for happiness. When that career also fulfills your financial needs and desires, that is what completes the full picture of happiness.
I am nowhere near wealthy according to the economic standards in America, but within my own perception of wealth, I am quite satisfied. Being able to achieve this level of satisfaction by working at home doing what I am gifted to do and so enjoy doing, continues to support the happiness I have in my life.
By Debbie Strange
Icekrystal
debra_strange@yahoo.com
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Posted by debbiestrange on 2009-11-04 18:17:16 | Rating: | Views: 54
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