The M.A.P. Maker [Meaning, Abundance & Passion]

Maybe money CAN buy happiness (if you spend it right)

I just ran across an interesting book called, Money Can Buy Happiness: How to Spend to Get the Life You Want by MP Dunleavey. On the book's web site, there's a sample of what's inside. While it sounds like a book about money, it's really a book about what makes us happy. Here's how the author describes the basic concept:

It may seem strange to equate your personal well-being with an investment portfolio, but it's a pretty useful metaphor. It reminds you, the stockholder, so to say, that you have a fair amount of control over where you invest and why...Savvy money managers may know to put a certain amount of capital into something solid like bonds, blue chip stocks or large-cap mutual funds, but the precise investments they choose are up to each individual. Likewise, how you decide to balance your assets in order to enhance your own happiness is ultimately up to you.

She goes on to describe the different happiness assets she recommends investing in. In a nutshell, those are...

ASSET #1: YOUR VALUABLE TIME

"...tradeoffs you can make to reclaim your time-and invest in a happier life."

ASSET #2: YOUR PERSONAL RESOURCES

"Investing in your self..."

ASSET #3: YOUR HEALTH

"...small but steady investments in your physical plant are key to the overall performance of your portfolio."

ASSET #4: FINANCIAL CONTROL

"...master bad money habits, vanquish debt, buy yourself greater peace of mind—and take control of your future."

ASSET #5: MUTUAL FUN

"...the all-important fun sector, and the countless ways it can boost your portfolio's overall performance."

ASSET #6: GET INTO BONDS

"...investing more in the people who are most important to you is essential to having a life that's fulfilling."

ASSET #7: GIVING TO FEEL GOOD

"...researchers are finding that the act of giving bestows numerous gifts on the giver as well: it supports and strengthens social bonds, enriches your life, enhances your health and even boosts longevity."

Dunleavey follows that list up with this comment: "There's absolutely nothing surprising on this list, nothing new-except the radical idea that these aren't philosophical choices, but financial ones."

And that's what I love about this idea. It starts to put money into perspective. It neither demonizes it nor idolizes it. It simply looks at money as a tool. And when we see it as nothing more than a tool, we're still left with the question, "What's important to me?" And the more we understand that, the more closely aligned our financial decisions can be with what makes us truly happy.

I literally just ran across the book online, so I haven't read it yet. And I'm not going to let myself order it until my to-read stack is considerably shorter than its current two feet tall. But it's definitely going on my to-read list.

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Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM

Study: It's the little things that make us happy

My clients come to see me when they decide it's time to find the path to a career that energizes and inspires them. While "where to from here" is the overall focus, the discussions often delve into the question, "How can I make my life today as fun and energizing as possible?"

I'm a big fan of small, simple, and doable. One of the approaches to refining life in the moment is making a list of activities that are fun and energizing, then committing to picking one each day and doing it. No muss. No fuss. Simple as pie.

Here's a study that suggests that the small things in life can make a big difference in our happiness.

The study compared the ‘happiness levels’ of lottery jackpot winners with a control group, using a ‘Satisfaction with Life Scale’ developed by the University of Illinois. Respondents were asked how satisfied they were in relation to different elements of their life, their different mood states explored, how often they treated themselves and what form this took.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the flashy cars and diamond jewellery that upped the jackpot winners’ happiness quotient. It was the listening to music, reading a book, or enjoying a bottle of wine with a takeaway that really made the difference.

Dr Tunney said: “Modern-day pressures take their toll on everyday happiness. As a result we try to make ourselves feel better and happier through personal rewards and treats. We’ve all heard the saying ‘a little bit of what you fancy does you good’, and treating yourself is the ideal way to keep spirits lifted when you’re down in the dumps.

The saying that "the best things in life are free" seems to apply here as well...

The survey contrasted cost-free activities, such as walking and snoozing, with expensive ones like overseas holidays. It asked how frequently they might purchase ‘staying in treats’ — like a bottle of wine — and how often they bought themselves items like shoes, mobile phones and DVDs.

The research found that happy people — whether lottery jackpot winners or not — liked long baths, going swimming, playing games and enjoying their hobby. Those who described themselves as less happy didn’t choose the cost-free indulgences. They rewarded themselves with CDs, cheap DVDs and inexpensive meals out instead.

How about you? What small things give you joy?

Check out The Occupational Adventure Guide

Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM