money can’t buy happiness, but most people don’t really believe it.

We’ve all heard that money can’t buy

happiness, but most people don’t really believe

it.

More money won’t make me happy—are you

nuts? Come on, if I hit the lotto, I could pay off

all of my debt, quit my crappy job, do what

I’ve always wanted to do, and still have plenty

to give to my family and charities. You’re

telling me that wouldn’t make me happier?

Yes. It’s surprising but true. Lots of studies

have been done on this. A year after winning,

lottery jackpot winners are no happier than

they were before they won. Amazingly, the

same is true for people who are in terrible

accidents and suddenly paralyzed: a year later,

they’re no less happy than before.

When someone cuts you off in traffic, do you

blow your top? Well, who wouldn’t—they could

have killed someone! That’s fear, too—you’re

angry because they put you in danger.

Most unpleasant feelings boil down to fear. If

you’re stressed about work or money, your

relationships, what people think of you, or all

the things you have to do, it all comes down to

fear. This is important: fear is the enemy of

happiness.