We often assume that having more money will make us happier. Certainly, money can fund things, like hobbies or vacations, which temporarily improve our moods. Also, having money can take away the anxiety that comes from not having enough to meet our needs.
Still, you shouldn’t pencil in true happiness for some far distant date. You can feel better right now by developing more gratitude for the good fortune you already have. Gratitude doesn’t just give you a happier mindset. It can also help you make better financial decisions. Let’s take a look at four suggestions for nurturing gratitude in your life.
1. Distinguish Between Happiness and Gratification
If you’re trying to lose 20 pounds, a donut might bring delicious gratification for a short time, but it will take away from long-term happiness by keeping you from meeting your goals. When you’re grateful for what you have, you don’t rely on gratification from donuts, spending sprees, or other decisions you’ll regret. You have a more stable sense of satisfaction with life, and those temptations hold less power.
When you’re faced with choices in the moment, stop and visualize your future self, or the person you will become. Picture the physical appearance you want to have, where you’ll be in your career, and what financial resources you’ll acquire. Then, ask yourself whether quick gratification now would make that future self happier. In many cases, you can’t create your future self — the one that’s 20 pounds lighter — without delaying gratification now.
2. Start Giving
Giving means different things to different people. For some people, like people who become social workers or teachers, a job that involves giving to others becomes more of a life calling. You don’t have to devote your life to giving to others, but you’ll be surprised how giving away just a little of your time and money helps you to realize how much you have left over.
Some of the best things that you can give away include money, time, and skills. Create a separate bank account — or even just a special jar — and put money into it that you’re willing to give to others. You can donate small amounts of money on a regular basis, or you can make large donations at certain times of the year, such as during the holidays.
If you’d prefer to give your time and skills to others, find an organization (or start one) and volunteer just a few hours every month. To put your mind at ease, remember that you don’t have to save the world with your volunteer work. You can support something simple with your giving, like your local community theater or symphony.
3. Express Gratitude
In a recent experiment, a team from Northeastern University offered participants a chance to receive $54 in cash today or a check for $80 after 30 days. Before asking the question, researchers asked participants to write about a life event that made them feel grateful, happy, or neutral. People who wrote about gratefulness were less likely to take the $54, but people who wrote about happy or neutral experiences were more likely to take the easy money.
Shawn Achor, an expert on happiness who recently presented at Google’s re:Work conference, suggests increasing your gratitude by taking two minutes per day to express gratitude for what you have. His suggestions include:
- Saying “thank you.” Spend two minutes per day saying “thanks” to someone, either verbally or in writing.
- Making a list. Every day, list three things for which you’re grateful in a journal or notebook.
- Keeping a gratitude commitment. Say your “thank yous” or make your gratitude list for at least 21 consecutive days. You’ll feel better, and you might also make better financial decisions.
4. Expand Your Worldview
Meeting people who aren’t like you can expand your appreciation for what you have. You can travel overseas to other cultures, or you can meet the less fortunate in your own backyard by volunteering at a local food bank or shelter. When you see other people living with less, you often realize that true happiness doesn’t depend on what you own.
Instead of coveting the lifestyle of people who have more, become happier today. Cultivate gratitude in your life right now, wherever you are.
