Wealth is not something that should be measured by the amount of money that one
person possesses. Rather it should be measured by non materialistic things such as an individual's happiness, virtue, and family. People these days focus too much on trying to gain wealth by earning money when they should focus on trying to make themselves a better person. In order for a person to truly be wealthy they should seek for more than what a number possesses. It is often found that the simplicity of a large number never truly satisfies the crave to which makes an individual happy. For example, satisfaction in Northern America showed that “earnings past $105,000 tended to coincide with a lower levels of happiness and well-being.” This further exemplifies ideas pointing to the concept that money can only lead to happiness to a certain point, once you reach that point having a larger amount of money does almost nothing to increase your happiness. Therefore it could be argued that once you gain enough money to survive then you should strive for the spiritual wealth that can lead to truly being satisfied and feeling wealthy rather than the feeling you would receive from a larger amount of money. People will find that if they strive to make themselves a better person and appreciate the little things in life rather than materialistic things like money and their possessions then it will lead to them feeling as if they are more wealthy than if all they worked for was just a larger amount of money.
When you feel as if you have lived a good virtuous life then it makes you feel accomplished,
which makes u feel as if you lived a life of meaning. A life where all you strive for is money will
lead you to feeling empty at the end of your existence because you haven’t accomplished things
that make you truly happy, which leads to concepts of unfulfillment, leaving you to feel like
something is missing.
Many people will also choose their profession based solely off of how much money they will be able to make. Instead people need to find a job that they will actually enjoy doing and will make them feel fulfilled in life not one that will lead to a larger paycheck. People spend almost every day working at their job so if they choose a profession solely based off of how much money they will make then they will not be as content with their life as the years go by because they have to do something that they aren’t truly passionate about. This is why it is important to choose a job that you enjoy so when you have to work there every day you will actually enjoy what you are doing and remain content with the duration of your lifetime. Choosing a profession out of happiness rather than wealth reasons can lead to a longer amount of happiness which is more important than a life full of money. Overall if you want to be able to live a wealthy life then it is important to focus on doing things that will make you happy and feel as if you have meaning rather than just working towards a larger paycheck.
Works Cited
Josh Hafner, USA Today https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/374119002
Many people will also choose their profession based solely off of how much money they will be able to make. Instead people need to find a job that they will actually enjoy doing and will make them feel fulfilled in life not one that will lead to a larger paycheck. People spend almost every day working at their job so if they choose a profession solely based off of how much money they will make then they will not be as content with their life as the years go by because they have to do something that they aren’t truly passionate about. This is why it is important to choose a job that you enjoy so when you have to work there every day you will actually enjoy what you are doing and remain content with the duration of your lifetime. Choosing a profession out of happiness rather than wealth reasons can lead to a longer amount of happiness which is more important than a life full of money. Overall if you want to be able to live a wealthy life then it is important to focus on doing things that will make you happy and feel as if you have meaning rather than just working towards a larger paycheck.
Works Cited
Josh Hafner, USA Today https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/374119002
.I appreciate your definition of "wealth" and it has shown me a new perspective on what really matters in life. Your writing is easy to understand as well as credible and I will definitely reference your ideas of wealth in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your message about how money doesn't bring wealth in your life. It was interesting that you mentioned specifically the amount of money that is associated with a decrease in happiness. I feel that in this time in our life, we should definitely consider our happiness when choosing what career we want to enter. - Lauren White
ReplyDeleteThis is a great thoughtful passage about the idea of happiness and how it coincides to wealth. I liked how you started your work by defining what wealth means to you as a jumping point to get to your thesis statement.You had a structured essay, going form what true wealth is to how one can achieve it, while also addressing the "false premise" of monetary wealth being the all in all in deciding an individuals happiness.Overall i enjoyed reading your opinion piece, it gave me a more diverse view of what it means to have a level of wealth and what that wealth truly means in a persons life. - Immanuel B.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this piece as it talks about real life situations and how people see money as being something that makes you happy. I agreed with your statement that wealth should be based solely off of happiness and virtue because even if you are the richest person in the world, you won't always be guaranteed unlimited happiness. I also really agree that people should choose careers based on what they like because I know a lot of people are miserable at work only because it makes them money. Overall, great piece!
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more. Your alternative definition of wealth is spot on! Society should base their happiness of of "spiritual wealth" as you put. One thing that did surprise me was the statistic that "earnings past $105,000 tended to coincide with a lower levels of happiness and well-being". This is fascinating because you would think that an individual with that income would be financially comfortable leading them to be more happy.
ReplyDeleteYour piece was very interesting considering how it presents a different take on the concept of wealth. Your evidence for your claim, for example, the study showing "earnings past $105,000 tended to coincide with a lower levels of happiness and well-being", supports your claim well and makes the piece overall more intriguing to read and easier to take seriously.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your perception of wealth. It is most commonly found that people who look to make more money than find what truly makes them happy, leads them in the end to unhappiness in the long run. It's crazy to think that with even making loads up money, it won't keep you happy for long. Amazing job!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with your perspective of wealth and how it can not bring the same happiness as spiritual wealth. Comparing the spiritual wealth and money wealth was a great way to describe how most people feel accomplished or not. Also, the use of evidence was interesting, I did not expect that people who make over 105,000 would be less happy. Overall, this is great work!
ReplyDeleteI was really entertained by your writing though I don't agree to some parts specifically, the part when you talked about what to consider when choosing a profession in life. However, your overall piece is very true regarding the fact that we should not base our happiness on the amount of money we make but instead focus it more on the things we've accomplished and the non-materialistic things that money can buy. I like how you supported your points of what defines true happiness with examples and details.
ReplyDeleteI find the topic so important, especially right now that we have to make so many decisions. I really like your perspective and the connection you make between happiness, money and the career we choose. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with your definition of wealth. To me, it seems like a waste of a life if people only
ReplyDeleteconsider themselves to be wealthy when they have met a criteria for the amount of money that they have. Especially if these people chose a profession only for the amount of income that they make. If the income is enough to where you are living, then there is no need for the excess.
I really love your version of the meaning of wealth. I agree that “wealth” of materialistic things can only give you a certain amount of happiness, but the wealth of having love, joy, and perseverance are what give life meaning. Your writing that criticizes the views of wealth was very inspiring and opened my view on life. I felt your passion and loved how you expressed your opinion so vividly. Keep it up!
ReplyDelete-Cedrick Martinez
I really loved this and completely agree with everything you said, life is about more than just having money. we need to enjoy life and only do things that will brung us happiness. Unfortunately not everyone has this mindset, I can personally say that I need to focus and practice this sort of mindset in real life.- Kate Sainz
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the point of view and the definition of wealth. I feel like we should not focus on the materialistic things and focus on our happiness. This piece was well written and if society would understand this definition of wealth, then we would all be a lot happier.
ReplyDeleteChallenging societal stigma is always a difficult task, but you absolutely crushed this one. Your perspective on what wealth truly means, in contrast with the worldly desires others seek, underlines how important it is to live a “good, virtuous life” instead of a paycheck-oriented life. Your last line really takes it home. Great work!
ReplyDeleteIn a society where so many people are looking for a short cut or an easy way into a "quick buck" is so prevalent, I find it extremely refreshing to hear someone else's view and insight that challenges such a popularized work ethic. Your piece was written so well, Thank You!- Madia Wright
ReplyDeleteIn a society where so many people are looking for a short cut or an easy way into a "quick buck" is so prevalent, I find it extremely refreshing to hear someone else's view and insight that challenges such a popularized work ethic. Your piece was written so well, Thank You!- Madia Wright
ReplyDeleteYour response towards society's view of wealth is truly thought-provoking. By responding to the differences of spiritual wealth and hard money wealth, you have the audience question their own beliefs on whether or not the life decisions they plan to make or the life decisions they are currently making are correct and sound. I also really love the major perspective shift in the second paragraph, for it gives me a sense of wonder of how life is filled with things such as money even though the abundance should not be our main appreciation, but rather happiness. -Nathaniel Alvarado
ReplyDeleteYour entire piece was very intriguing, you gave your perspective of wealth and advise as how to not get caught up in the false hopes of money being the solution to everything. You had a strong begining defining wealth to be measured by your happiness, family, and virtue. As well as a strong ending, the last sentence of your piece really connects to the reader and makes you think about what you value.
ReplyDelete- Stephanie Cabrera
It was great how you commented on the difference and warping of the idea of wealth from being a good natured idea surrounding “happiness, virtue and family,” and discussed how society now sees it as materialistic and thus require materialistic wealth to be happy
ReplyDelete-Justin Lim
Adding your opinion on a topic that makes America’s world go round, creates a piece that is both controversial and enlightening. Not only am I , as a reader, rethinking the meaning of wealth, but i am also educated on the effect money has on people in general. Adding the example was a great touch that turned your work from an opinionated rambling, to a more credible source that puts the audience into perspective.
ReplyDeleteThis piece overall made me re imagine and question myself on what wealth truly is, "happiness, virtue and family" is, to me, truly the best quote in this poem to my mind. Overall this piece truly sheds light on what we should think, not what society should think. Why should we always depend on society? Truly mind boggling and eye opening!-Jacob Higgins
ReplyDeleteThis is a very valid understanding of what it means to be wealthy. I believe many people think that money will immediate grant them happiness, but seeing that it is the complete opposite is a very big eye opener. I hope more people can realize this fact so they can enjoy their life more. Great job!
ReplyDelete-Kyler Lovett
I really admire your personal definition of “wealth because it demonstrates how people should be more thankful for what they have and be more appreciative of what they have and realize how lucky they are to be able to see what really matters.
ReplyDelete-Aneika Madrigal
I completely agree with the sentiment that you displayed in your post. Too much of our popular culture has instilled in our youth that it's more important to chase the highest paying career than it is to live life working on the things you are passionate about. While it is easy to see the other side of the argument, that being that people need to make the most money in order to support their family, it is important to also take a look at this issue from a moral standpoint and at a specific group of people: the billionaires. While so few have so much and so many have so little, the media and these billionaires keep trying to push the idea that the average person should chase the American Dream. In reality, this dream doesn't work for everyone. The Wealth that so many people keep trying to chase, in the system that we have, is not meant for them. Instead of this, they should be pursuing a career that they'll enjoy which will also increase productivity in the workplace.
ReplyDelete- Joshua L.