Anita Sharpe of Worthwhile Magazine points us to a world Happiness/Money Index survey in her post: "Study after study shows the same thing: after a certain point, money doesn't buy happiness." Now being a skeptical marketer - that is skeptical of most surveys prefering observation and measuring what people do not what they say - I noted that in the cited World Values Survey project, "inhabitants of different countries and territories were asked how happy or satisfied they were". In my follow-on Worthwhile post:
Now do you simply ask people how happy they are? Nope, I'm about to throw myself off a bridge tonight, but thanks for asking. Would you be truthful? (Yet that's exactly what many of these "studies" do!)
[Daniel] Nettle [author of Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile] describes a clever study wherein some subjects, but not others, find a dime on a photocopy machine before being given the questionnaire. When later asked, the subjects who found the dime reported significantly higher satisfaction with their whole lives. People say their lives are better when asked on a sunny day - unless you first mention the weather to them, in which case they correct for sunshine and give you a lower number. (Source: premiere issue of science culture mag Seed, Oct 2005) - From "Pinning Down Happiness", Worthwhile blog
In the end of the "Pinning Down Happiness" post I suppose I end up full circle in agreement with Anita ("after a certain point, money doesn't buy happiness") while disagreeing with survey method's validity. In scientific happiness studies that use brain scanning such as fMRIs, those that simply possess a sannysin's robe and begging bowl seem awfully contented.
Bonus: Doubt that was Mr. Maslow's gist having read him, but it does seem this is many Americans interpretation & application: "Then it struck me: advertising planners usually run out of ad agencies to live in tree houses or start improv theatre groups. It’s because they take Maslow to be an actual plan for life. But to be taken in by Maslow, you have to believe that owning a house with a pool in Topanga Canyon makes you more spiritual than a caveman or a villager in Papua New Guinea." - Brian Millar via Chris Locke's Mystic Bourgeoisie
p.s. I'm hosting the Carnival of Healing on Sat, Oct 15th, so this is an open call letting you know I'm open to submissions that you'll be writing or send me links you run across in your blog reading that pertains to "wellness, holistic health, spirituality, personal empowerment, or healthy lifestyle."
Personally, I'd love to have a integrated with your life & business slant for the theme. Please send to crossroadsdispatches -at- gmail =dot= com by Friday 5pm EST. More on the Carnival from the site:
The Carnival of Healing is a weekly round-up of personal Web sites and blogs on the topics of holistic health, wellness, spirituality, and self empowerment.
Which reminds me of Steve Case's transition along the Maslow pyramid into being needs including wellness. (I'm sure boomer demographics contribute too, but maturity also plays into the pyramid.) Case's Revolution Healthcare Group "will launch a consumer-friendly health portal in 2006 ( http://www.revolutionhealth.com ). The website will be a leading tool for consumers as they manage their health needs and the health needs of their families." (via Jeff Clavier's Software Only)
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