Question of the day: Can you really buy happiness through material things? My answer may just surprise you.
RUSHING TO A RED LIGHT
Most of us think this world is face paced; even more so if you live in a big city like Toronto. Too bad it’s all in our heads!
HAPPINESS IS WHAT YOU VALUE
You’ll need to ask the hard question to yourself to figure out what makes you happy: “What do you truly value?”
There may not be much value in all the metal and glass that make up a smartphone, but what it allows you to do can be tremendously valuable. Buying the latest and greatest phone may actually make you happy. Maybe it allows you to more easily communicate with your nephew who is half way across the world.
It isn’t about what that material thing is in your life. It’s about how it makes your life better and therefore happier.
LUXURY CARS AND EXPENSIVE CLOTHES
I love the tiny home movement, community gardens, and living life to the fullest as much as the next person, but to think that there is no value in material things is ridiculous.
As I said, it just depends on what you value. Don’t look to others to tell you what those things are. If someone loves driving around in a fast car, but you’d rather stroll around in brand new clothes then you do you.
Wondering how luxury cars or expensive clothes can make someone happy? Other than getting you from one place to another and covering you up, both can give you boosts in confidence, a feeling of grandeur, and a feeling of accomplishment. This may not be for everyone, but if you can afford luxury goods like these to feel great about yourself then all the power to you!
THE NON-MATERIAL
This also applies to non-material things. If someone told you that backcountry camping is #life, but you hate the thought of using a hole as a washroom then that isn’t your idea of happiness.
Maybe your happiness is discovering new music while sipping a cool drink on a restaurant patio or grabbing a coffee and reading a few books at your local library.
THE PROBLEM
The problem with a lot of people is that they buy without thinking and don’t appreciate their purchase. Don’t make someone else’s associated value be yours. You’re unique!
Spending your hard-earned money on material (and non-material things) you appreciate and value is a beautiful thing. You just have to understand what you’re getting out of it.
So can you really buy happiness? I think so!
Jonathan How is the photographer behind Made by Ten and calls Milton his home. He specializes in creating beautiful, creative portraits of real women. He uses photography (and this blog) to help them build confidence and love for themselves and creates artistic images for their homes and offices. You can see him driving around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada from portrait to fashion shoot and back again.