There’s a story about an American doctor who visited the African
nation of Mali on a missions trip. As she tended to the medical needs
of the local people, a woman asked her how many children she had.
“None,” she replied.
The local woman looked at her with mournful eyes and said that she was sorry. The doctor asked the woman how many children she had. The woman beamed as she responded, “Eight. I’m very fortunate to be so rich.”
The doctor realised that the women of Mali measured their wealth very differently. It wasn’t in financial or material terms, but in the number of children they were privileged to bear.
It’s a great reminder that there are a lot of people in the world who have a lot of money, but don’t consider themselves to be wealthy. And many who we would define as poor who see themselves as very rich.
There are a lot of people who live in very fortunate circumstances, but are far from happy. Whilst there are people living in the most desperate of situations who are able to laugh and sing.
Real wealth and happiness comes when you look at what you have and are grateful for it.
If you want to be wealthier and happier, I would suggest that you don’t need more money or material things, but a change in perspective.
Feeling good about the future is important for our happiness. We all need goals to motivate us and these need to be challenging enough to excite us, but also achievable. If we try to attempt the impossible this brings unnecessary stress.
Choosing ambitious but realistic goals gives our lives direction and brings a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when we achieve them.
Personal happiness is influenced by having goals and the resources to attain those goals. Although our genes influence about 50% of the variation in our personal happiness, our circumstances (like income and environment) affect only about 10%. As much as 40% is accounted for by our daily activities and the conscious choices we make. So the good news is that our actions really can make a difference.
What are the things that help you to feel wealthy and happy?
The local woman looked at her with mournful eyes and said that she was sorry. The doctor asked the woman how many children she had. The woman beamed as she responded, “Eight. I’m very fortunate to be so rich.”
The doctor realised that the women of Mali measured their wealth very differently. It wasn’t in financial or material terms, but in the number of children they were privileged to bear.
It’s a great reminder that there are a lot of people in the world who have a lot of money, but don’t consider themselves to be wealthy. And many who we would define as poor who see themselves as very rich.
There are a lot of people who live in very fortunate circumstances, but are far from happy. Whilst there are people living in the most desperate of situations who are able to laugh and sing.
Real wealth and happiness comes when you look at what you have and are grateful for it.
If you want to be wealthier and happier, I would suggest that you don’t need more money or material things, but a change in perspective.
Feeling good about the future is important for our happiness. We all need goals to motivate us and these need to be challenging enough to excite us, but also achievable. If we try to attempt the impossible this brings unnecessary stress.
Choosing ambitious but realistic goals gives our lives direction and brings a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when we achieve them.
Personal happiness is influenced by having goals and the resources to attain those goals. Although our genes influence about 50% of the variation in our personal happiness, our circumstances (like income and environment) affect only about 10%. As much as 40% is accounted for by our daily activities and the conscious choices we make. So the good news is that our actions really can make a difference.
What are the things that help you to feel wealthy and happy?
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