Can Money Buy Happiness?

Can money buy happiness? Different people have different opinions toward money. Some people think money is the source of happiness. In their opinion, everything in the world can be bought with money. However, others think that money is the root of all evils. For example, some people fight against each other for money, some kill others for money. All these evils are under the control of money. In my opinion, money can bring us pain as well as happiness. Only when your money is made through your honest efforts, can you live a good life. If we use money to help the poor and homeless, we will enjoy the true happiness. 

Jaspreet Sethi, New Delhi, India

Can money buy happiness? It certainly doesn’t make one sad. If it comes my way, I’ll be happy.

If I had money, I’d buy a bigger car, a bigger house, a better education for my child, and a better holiday for my family.

Adam Hassan, Abuja, Nigeria

I think money can buy happiness. If you have to pay school fees, you need money. If you need a home for yourself, you need money. If you want to buy yourself something to eat, you need money. So if you don’t have money to get these things, there won’t be happiness.

If I had money, I’d get myself a home, a very good car, and a wife.

Arseny Yatsechko, Moscow, Russia

Money can buy anything. If you have enough money, you can make yourself happy. Family can change, people can change, but money won’t change.

If I had money, I’d probably spend it on a trip. I’d go to Paris or Berlin. I’m not so worried about the economy.

I’ve seen people with untold wealth. They never seemed happy to me. But what is happiness? You know, at the end of the day, as long as you’ve got your health and can get up, brush your teeth, get dressed in the morning, and talk to one another, you’re the richest person in the world.

Miguel Josue Molano, Bogotá, Colombia

You can have lots of money, but if you don’t have happiness in your heart, you won’t be able to share it.

If I suddenly found myself with lots of money, I would try to help people, because that’s the way to become happy. I’d help people try to achieve a different type of happiness.

If you are always told you’re a genius, will it have any influence on your work? Will it make you work harder and face the difficulties more bravely because you know your ability, or will it make you become lazier because you know you’re already ahead? In a series of studies, Dweck and her team made experiment on 400 fifth graders from different parts of the United States.

First, participants（参加者）were given a series of puzzles to test their IQ. After they finished their test, they were told their scores and praised in different ways. One group of participants were praised for their intelligence and were told -You got X number correct. That’s really good score. You must be very smart at this. Another group of participants were told, "You must have worked really hard." The students were then given a choice as to what kind of test they would take next. They could either take one that’s harder than the first one, or one that’s just as easy. A majority of the children who were praised for their intelligence chose to take the easy test whereas, 90% of those praised for their efforts chose to do the harder puzzles.

While Dweck’s series of studies centered on children, it’s important to notice how having a particular mindset（心态）can influence you at any age. As someone with a fixed （固执的）mindset, you believe basic qualities—like-intelligence—are unchangeable. Since you are often praised for your intelligence, you want to continue remaining intelligent in the eyes of others so you shy away from challenges.

However, as someone with a growth mindset you believe the harder you try, the more you’ll improve. You are not afraid of taking risks, even if there’s a big chance that you’ll all flat on your face along the way. More and more researches support the growth mindset," Dweck wrote in the journal Educational Leadership.“Basic aspects of intelligence can be strengthened through learning and adventures, and efforts and persistence in the face of challenges are key ingredients in outstanding achievements.”

Dweck’s studies teach us an important lesson about success. A person’s intelligence can only take him or her to certain distance. The rest of the way is paved by bravery and determination.