When you reach a certain age, you begin to realize the importance of money. While true that âmoney canât buy happinessâ, it at least provides some security. Being poor is never something that one strives to attain. Many people who become extremely wealthy often grow up in poor households, which strengthens their resolve to never again relive the experience.
There isn’t anything wrong with having money, per se. Many affluent people have worked diligently to achieve the success necessary to accumulate wealth. Itâs the prioritization of accumulating money at all costs that is the problem. In this relentless pursuit, many people realize that money is not, and never will be, the answer to what makes a person happy.
If you need further proof, look to Hollywood, California. How many actors, actresses, singers, and performers have we seen destroy themselves because of drugs, alcohol, depression, and other addictions?
Robin Williams, one of the best actors and comedians of all-time, committed suicide â attributed to depression and allegations of drug addiction. Williams was extremely wealthy and successful, yet the wealth was not enough to spare the great performer his life.
Money cannot buy happiness. What else can money not buy?
Here are ten things money cannot buy:
“Money has never made man happy, nor will it; there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.â â Benjamin Franklin
1. Love
Money can buy lust, attraction and powerâŚbut it canât buy love. This is because love is something intimate; something heartfelt; something mysterious. Money is none of these things. Money is simply a method of exchange â no more and no less. Itâs used to pay for a product or a service; its convenience, comfort, and luxury â none of which typify what human beings truly need.
Many of us find this lesson out the hard way. We accumulate more, only to feel emptier. This is because we are raised in a culture that glamorizes wealth; which, in effect, leads to misconceptions and false beliefs.
2. Truth
Money may be able to buy influence, but truths are the most influential of all. Oftentimes money is spent to push beliefs or an agenda and can even be spent to create biased research to bolster an opinion. And oftentimes, the money wins… in the short term.
In the end, no matter how much money is spent on stifling or skewing the truth, it will always be revealed.
3. Time
Each passing minute is time that you will never get back; you are one minute closer to dying. This is meant to be morbid or depressing but truthful. Our life starts to fade away from the moment we are born.
Despite all of the scientific and medical advances, no practical way exists to extend life significantly. The extremely wealthy have spent countless amounts of money in the vain attempting to extend their lives, only to discover that they die around the same age as everyone else.
No amount of money will be able to turn the clocks back. We must take life in, moment-by-moment while experiencing it to the fullest.
4. Peace
Culturing your thoughts is the only thing that will ever bring you true peace. One aspect of this is accepting when bad things happen and turning it into a positive experience.
Look at the countless amounts of money governments and individuals have spent in the name of âpeaceâ. These vast sums have never been able to come close to what we would define as âpeacefulâ.
More importantly, your inner peace does not depend on your bank statement’s âbalanceâ section. Itâs how you train your mind, set expectations, and define what inner peace truly means to you.
5. Talent
The gifts and abilities that you possess in your mind and body are priceless. While money can certainly help develop a talent, it will never be able to purchase a talent or skill.
Aside from innate talent, there is the ability to learn a skill or talent; this will never be able to be purchased with any amount of money. The mental processes and dexterity of the mind and body will never be purchasableâŚthey are invaluable.
6. Health
While undoubtedly true that money can purchase healthcare and medicine, it cannot replace natural health once itâs gone. At the same time, activities like exercise, preventative medicine, and natural self-care cost little to nothing.
Itâs almost depressing to see celebrities spend outrageous amounts of money in the vain attempt to keep their ânatural beautyâ. First off, aging is natural beauty; wrinkling is natural beauty; gray hair is a natural beauty. On the other hand, surgical procedures that implant plastic and other medicinal substances into the body? This is not at all natural.
7. Manners/Class
Rude people exist across the entire income spectrum. How to treat someone respectfully obviously does not come from money. Arguably, there are more wealthy and entitled snobs than there are those of modest means.
Money may put you into a âhigher class,â but it certainly does not make you classy. Need proof? See Kim Kardashian or Miley Cyrus. Case closed.
8. True friends
Possessing money may certainly attract people who want to be friends, but it doesnât guarantee true friendship. Most true friends love one anotherâŚand what did we discuss about money and love? The same concept applies here.
True and lasting friends are there during the âboomâ and still there during the âbustâ. Money and possessions donât matter to true friendsâŚyour person matters.
9. Knowledge
The information you accumulate, the elements of your intellect, and the ways you exhibit wisdom can never be bought. Have you ever wondered why some of the wealthiest people seem to act in the most asinine ways? This is because money or something else has influenced their thought processes.
Some wealthy people have stated how money makes them feel âinvincibleâ, and as a result, have made some truly bad decisions. So itâs not only the acquisition of this knowledge that makes it invaluable, itâs the practical application of this knowledgeâŚneither of which money can buy.
10. Presence & Acceptance
Perhaps the most important is presence and acceptance â the ability to be mindfully present and accept, without judgment, each and every situation. This tremendous, life-changing gift is not available for purchase; only to those who seek to understand and apply the concepts.
The ability to be present while accepting each moment as we navigate life is a valuable giftâŚmore valuable than any amount of money. After all, if we are practice presence and acceptance throughout our life, what is the need for money?
Comments
14 responses to “10 Things Money Can’t Buy”
1. Love
I cannot of love without gifts. what do you use to buy gifts?
2. Truth
Sometimes you need something to get the right information . Like the internet. Is the internet free? Is the mobile phone free?
3. Time
If you have money, you save time travelling. If you have something to do , you can hire to do it for you. Can you hire without money?
4. Peace
Sometimes to achieve peace, you must defend yourself? How would you do that? With bare hands?
5. Talent
To grow your talent, you need training, books , equipment etc. Are they free?
6. Health
Are medicines free? Are hospitals, doctor consulations free? Gym/exercise equipments free?
9. Knowledge
Are books free? Yeah, in the library. But does the library have it all?
10. Presence & Acceptance
To be present you have to travel. Can you travel without money?
Interesting point, and of course, none of these automatically fall into your lap just because you suddenly have cash, however, many are now far easier to get with enough money.
1,2 – I’ll give you those.
3 – Not having to work full time – that’s one hell of a lot of free time you just saved, even changing to a lower paid, but more local job could save you an hour to work and an hour back each day, or about a working day per week.
4 – Peace, sounds fair, however, if we can be raised simply to the point of a reasonable standard of living, with some small amount of savings, we suddenly have far less stress and anxiety than millions live with because they’re living week to week, and just something like the boiler, freezer, or car breaking down can wreck you.
5 – Talent, again, sure, yet…what of the millions of people, all with individual talents, but no time, or not enough energy at the end of the week to devote to that talent? How many musical virtuosos, talented inventors, writers, and artists do we have holding down two jobs just to get by and fall into the bed at the day?
6 – Health – Again, money gives you access to better food, time to exercise, less stress, less physical labour, and access to the best in private healthcare, so I think that’s arguable.
7 – Manners/class – tricky, I’ll give you this, but I’d say that while many poorer people aren’t so trained in etiquette, they’re often decent, honest people, who’ll give you a break, and help you out when they can ill afford it themselves, and so often the better off will just tell you to ‘get a job’.
8 – Friends, again, in agreement here, I’m not here to just pick this whole thing apart, there’s many fair points.
9 – Knowledge – Can come with time, and both of those can come with money again, although, of course, you’ve still got to make the active decision to educate yourself.
10 – Lastly, I’d suggest this could well come from being poor then coming into money – I’d hope that most people experiencing that will remember what it’s like on both sides of the fence.
In short however, it’s why I support a Basic Income for all, we clearly can’t all be rich, but there’s only one reason any of us need to live in poverty, and that’s greed.
Actually, money can buy ALL those things…
What about “Experience” ?
Try doing any of this without having the spare time that money allows you to have.
money can't buy TRUST.
Money can't buy loyalty.
I always think a wealthy person is behind the Money can't buy you happiness sayings that are supposed to feel good quotes. I am not feeling it for far too many. Ask a hungry family in America this question or someone who can't pay medical bills, or keep shelter etc. If money can't buy happiness then there are a whole lot of people aspiring to find out if that premise is true. See money does buys comfortability, and it eases stress not worrying about financing this or paying for college or affording health care, not worrying about a roof over your head etc. shall we go on? Actually, money can solve many a problems. Therefore, I think it's a nice thing to say when you don't have it. It sounds so deep or powerful I guess? I just don't see people with money saying that Poverty can buy you happiness , because they are unhappy folks with it., Therefore why don't we agree to say Money can be a cure for many ailments but if you overdose on the cure you can become immune to its benefits. Treat money with respect and money will pay you back tenfold. Everyone wants to experience the unhappiness that money can't bring that aren't even near the barometer of wealth. Do I hear another MLM sprouting green all over for unhappiness to spread? My 2 cents for the day and it's IMHO and I am JS !
Why do they never say IMAGINATION??? Clearly you cannot purchase it at any store anywhere!!
money is not everything…..
Money Can't buy happiness? I see a lot of people happy to get gifts from family and friends. Those gifts were bought with money. Can't buy time. I can hire housekeeper and free up my time. Or hire a manager and I can go on a vacation. I can hire people with talent. For all the other things listed, they are free.
Of course happiness is also free.
I will have all of this
MALADES….
Time is sort of a non starter on the subject, no? Money can't buy time, but neither can anything else. It is unobtainable beyond what we are dealt. Money can buy knowledge but it can't buy intelligence. Some of these things I wouldn't spend money on even if it were possible, like friends. Overall, this is a very simplistic view and ultimately money can bring happiness if that is your focus. Speaking from experience, I was happy and content when I had money. After I lost my ass in the 2008 crash, I have never regained that happiness. I am just middle of the road now in a tiny house with old cars and I couldn't be more miserable. Comfort is what brings me happiness so yes, money can buy it.