Doubtless everyone who buys a lottery ticket on Saturday night firmly believes that hitting the jackpot will change their lives and bring new levels of happiness. Even if you don't believe that money will buy happiness outright, it is easy to assume that a bit more money than you already have would make you somewhat happier. False assumptions Surprisingly, international research doesn't bear this out. Those folk who do through luck or hard work have lots of money adapt to their new circumstances and return to their usual level of happiness. Wealth increases our appetites rather than sating them.
Wealth is like health.
Although it's utter absence breeds misery, having it is no guarantee of happiness. Happiness is less a matter of getting what we want than wanting what we have. Ideas like mid-life crisis are embedded in our culture. Yet research shows no increase in depressions, suicide or divorce during those mid-life years. Happiness is equally available to people at every age, says David Meyers.