Want to boost your happiness? Buy experiences, not material possessions

“Material possessions can provide a quick boost to enjoyment and happiness. Playing with a new phone is fun, and getting a new watch might boost your confidence. But such enjoyment tends to be fleeting. Your brain quickly readjusts to the new normal, and in time those goods lose their ability to incite happiness.

Experiences, on the other hand, provide more substantial long-term benefits. Experiences increase happiness by facilitating connection with others. People are social creatures and experiences often require spending time with others. Even after the actual event ends, reflecting on shared experiences makes us feel closer to others. Meaningful interactions and relationships with other humans are crucial to happiness and well-being. Moreover, experiences enhance our sense of self. Although ephemeral in time, experiences live on in our memories and make up the sum of our lives. They create our autobiographies and bestow meaning on our existences.

Of course, this does not mean that people should lose focus on other important, non-experiential uses for the money. Money also increases well-being in other ways — by increasing your access to healthy life choices, ensuring you have a roof over your head, and buffering against emergencies. When making a decision about a purchase — whether it’s experiential or material — consider how it fits into your overall well-being.”

Read the whole article at Big Think

#Happiness #Possessions #Experiences

💬 Do you spend more money on possessions or experiences? What experiences would you buy if there were no limitations?

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