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The age-old adage that money cannot buy happiness is often met with a skeptical eye by those who have experienced the joy of giving. This statement is supported by various authors and scholars who have explored the relationship between money, hard work, accumulated wealth, and the joy that comes from giving.

Money and Happiness: A Complex Relationship

In his book “The High Price of Materialism,” Tim Kasser articulates that the relentless pursuit of wealth can lead to unhappiness. However, he also acknowledges that using money in a way that aligns with one’s values, such as giving to others, can indeed foster happiness.

The Hard Work and Joy of Accumulation

Creating wealth is not merely about amassing money. It’s about the journey, the lessons learned, and the hard work put in. In “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell discusses the ‘10,000-Hour Rule,’ where mastery in any field requires immense hard work. This mastery, when utilized to accumulate wealth, can be a source of joy and satisfaction.

Wealth as a Tool for Good

Money itself is not inherently good or evil; rather, it is how it is used that determines its value. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, two of the world’s wealthiest individuals, have pledged to give away the majority of their fortunes. They exemplify how accumulated wealth can be a force for good in the world.

In his book “Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World,” Bill Clinton emphasizes the transformative power of giving. He illustrates that the act of donating money and time to causes that matter can have a profound impact on both the giver and the receiver.

The Philosophy of Giving

The connection between money and happiness becomes more evident when we examine the act of giving. In “The Life You Can Save,” Peter Singer argues that donating to those less fortunate is not just a moral duty but also a path to personal fulfillment.

Conclusion

The claim that money does not make one happy oversimplifies a complex issue. As supported by various authors and books, the act of hard work, accumulating wealth, and especially giving it away can indeed be sources of profound happiness. The joy of giving, supported by the responsible accumulation of wealth, reveals that money can indeed be a tool for positive change and personal contentment.

Di Tran recently had a conversation with someone who made a statement that resonated strongly with him: “You don’t live for your children, you live for you.” This statement is in alignment with another statement that we often hear in media or motivational speaking: “Your children did not choose to come to life, you made that choice to bring them to life.” Another statement in a similar context is “Your children exist to fulfill your life, so don’t act like it’s the other way around.”

5 Years Old – Doing School Homework

Di Tran often has conversations with his wife about what their life would be like without children. They wonder if it would just be two souls simply hanging out but with a very different kind of happiness than what they have now. However, Di Tran realizes that everything costs something, and nothing is free, and that includes children. Having children is an investment, and just like any investment, there are no guarantees. You invest a lot and you hope to harvest good results, but there’s no such investment that guarantees a result, and the same goes for children.

But Di Tran believes that there’s always a proven technique, which is often boring, not flashy, and not glamorous. For example, Warren Buffet always makes his bets on value-based companies, not trends. Similarly, with children, a value-based approach is crucial. There’s a lot of doing toward value-based investment in children, such as teaching by being an example, teaching human kindness as a focus regardless of how the world changes, and teaching that failing is good, a step to learn and enjoy it. Di Tran teaches his kids to give 100% effort at all times in all things they do, not to worry about the result, and to enjoy the ride. He always applies a technique he learned in IT, “fail fast so you can fix fast.”

7 Years Old – Iron clothes for his younger brother

Di Tran is the author of “Drop the ME and Focus on the OTHERs” book and soon to be released “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH.” He believes that by dropping the focus on oneself and instead focusing on others, you can achieve greater happiness and fulfillment. Similarly, by dropping the fear and focusing on faith, you can achieve greater success and overcome any obstacles that come your way.

While it may be easy to get caught up in the idea that children are the center of our lives, it’s important to remember that we are also living for ourselves. However, investing in our children with a value-based approach can lead to fulfilling and successful lives for both ourselves and our children.