8 Ways to Be Happy Without Money
You may have heard that money is what makes the world go round. Do you believe this to be true? Money is synonymous with power and control in our society. They both provide us with a false sense of accomplishment and happiness. Besides providing security and freedom, money also provides us with a sense of control. The comfort it provides us is priceless!
In the event that you do not have enough money to spend on your desires, and sometimes even on your basic needs, it can be a frightening experience. If you are unable to come to grips with your circumstances, it might be a persistent cause of anxiety and worry.
It is possible to live a happy and meaningful life without it, but it is not recommended. No doubt about it, I think so as well. After a natural disaster, I was fortunate enough to gain firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to live in desperate circumstances. In my experiences, whether it’s surviving the storm surge that came with Super Typhoon Haiyan, or working with the people of Vanuatu just a day after Cyclone Pam devastated their crops, or meeting the needs of villagers fleeing ISIS jihadis in Mosul, I’ve witnessed firsthand how resilient the human spirit is.
Such situations exist when the affected populations live in an economy that is largely devoid of monetary exchange and exchange rates. There are two possibilities: they either lost everything or have money but no purpose for it. Their capacity to bounce back, survive, and even laugh off their circumstances, whether via the use of a barter system or just depending on the compassion of others, is remarkable.
By chance, the researchers were able to measure the levels of happiness of 491 female participants before and after Hurricane Katrina as part of a study called the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (“RISK”) Project. “If you were to take a step back and look at your life in general right now, how happy or unhappy would you say you are?” the question asked.
Following the catastrophe, roughly 89 percent of women stayed in the “somewhat happy” or “extremely happy” categories, according to the study’s principal author, Rocio Calvo, an assistant professor at Boston College’s School of Social Work. This is intriguing, don’t you think. In the absence of material possessions, what could be the key to happiness?
Intentional internal feelings of happiness are produced as a result of chemical reactions occurring in our bodies, which we can control. Aren’t we fortunate to know that we have the ability to manipulate and control our emotions through a variety of exercises and activities. The following are some suggestions on how to be happy without spending money, because the best things in life are always free to be had.
1. Don’t Forget To Smile When You’re Around.
Customers service representatives were asked to think of positive thoughts in a study conducted by Michigan State University. Everyone’s face was lit up like a light bulb, and they all smiled at the same time. Aside from that, they’ve reported an improvement in their overall mood.. We all knew it was going to happen, don’t we? Try to think of a happy thought while you are not feeling like smiling and force those muscles to cooperate. Essentially, you must impersonate success until you achieve it in real life.
3.Keep a clear head.
Regain mastery over your emotions. You can consciously bring your mind back to the present if you notice it straying into your past or future. Allow yourself to let go of any anger or regrets you may have from yesterday, as well as any concerns you may have for the day ahead. Take pleasure in the here and now. Concentrate and pay attention to what you’re doing at any given moment. Devote the majority of your time to something worthwhile. Make use of your free time to improve your own situation and reputation.
3. Show Your Appreciation for Others.
Begin to cultivate the practice of being grateful for all of life’s blessings, great and little, and in between. Having a thankful heart attracts benefits because it attracts them to you. Those who are pessimistic do not make for good companions. The use of negative language will not assist you in winning! Start a gratitude journal to assist you with this exercise.
4. Make Use of Your Physical Resources.
My depression is so severe that getting out of bed is a major challenge when I don’t have any money. I encourage you to get up and get some exercise in your own home or at a park. Stress-reducing hormones are released, and stress-inducing chemicals are burnt away. You will experience an all-natural high that is much superior than that of Prozac. A sense of achievement is also generated. A gym membership is not required for this activity.
5. Take Advantage of the Sun.
To take advantage of Mr. Sun’s free vitamin D, you can go for a walk outside or even eat your lunch outside. In addition, you will get a nice tan, which will give you a healthy glow.
Sixth, cultivate a sense of well-being.
Make a point of not complaining about a lack of resources. Make a change in your outlook. The way you view life and the people in your life have an impact on your happiness. All things are transient, so do not let your current circumstances dictate your tomorrow. Reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram feeds so that you are not constantly reminded of how much you are missing out on. Please don’t measure your achievements against those of other people.
Minimalism should be welcomed.
You will be obliged to live with fewer tangible goods if you have a limited financial resources. Allow yourself to accept this reality and stop caring about having more possessions. It is just for a short period of time that having more will make you happy since we will constantly want more. In order to make a conscious and deliberate purchase, you must first determine what you need to purchase.
8. Show Others Respect.
Always be courteous and look for ways to assist others. Be fearless in your pursuit of altruism. Giving back to others gives our life more meaning and purpose. Also discovered to aid in the release of endorphins, which makes us feel good after doing good for someone else.
9) Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Get some rest the night before. Our bodies benefit from it because it allows them to recover and repair, allowing them to be more focused and productive when they wake up. Deprivation of sleep has been shown to have an adverse effect on the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for processing happy memories. A lack of sleep then has an impact on your ability to recall pleasant memories in the future. Stress and anxiety, as well as wrath and terror, are all affected by our sensitivity to this hormone.
10. Quiet Time is something to be enjoyed.
Allow yourself space to reflect and reconnect with yourself via various hobbies such as reading, meditating, praying, and writing. In this way, you can both relieve yourself of your daily responsibilities and plan your next steps. A few minutes of silence each day helps your hippocampus to better store memories. –
At the end of the day, remember that although money might provide us with comfort, it cannot provide us with joy. Because pleasure cannot be obtained via material possessions, but rather by leading a fulfilling life. Moreover, it might be regarded as a talent. What makes you happy is something you need to figure out.
The most important thing to take away from this is to utilize your present financial situation to figure out how you might become a better version of yourself going forward. Looking back on this period of your life, you will realize that what you initially perceived as a roadblock was in fact a stepping stone toward your future.
