How to be happy with what you earn
Scientific litsketch on boosting mental health
Why am I not earning more? We can always be unhappy with how much money we earn. But with a single shift in our mindset, we can also be happy no matter how much we earn.
Research shows that people can be happy no matter how much they earn by thinking of winning, but when people think of losing, they feel less happy when they earn less money (Kassam et al., 2011). Consider yourself a winner. Think of the times you have excelled. Think of your lucky times. This winner's mindset will make you happy with the income you earn now.
In an experiment, people were divided into two groups. Both groups were given three sets of prizes including $7 versus $5, $5 versus $3, and $3 verses $1, and a chance to win one of two prizes in each prize set. Group One always won the higher prize of the two in each set, but Group Two always won the lower prize of the two.
The results showed that Group One that always won the higher prize of the two felt equally happy no matter what the winning prize was. But Group Two that always won the lower prize of the two felt less happy when they won a lower prize amount.
Count your wins. Recall your lucky times. When we see ourselves as winners, or victors, we can be happy with what we already earn. But when we see ourselves as losers, the absolute amount of what we earn affects our happiness such that earning a lower amount makes us less happy.
When we believe that we have the victory and dominion over the world, we can begin to feel happy no matter how much money we earn.
Kassam, Karim S., Carey K. Morewedge, Daniel T. Gilbert, and Timothy D. Wilson. "Winners love winning and losers love money." Psychological science 22, no. 5 (2011): 602-606.
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