MarketWatch advice on Happiness

PAUL B. FARRELL in Special holiday contest: Just finish that sentence! asked you to complete the sentence "Whether you're Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim or atheist, we can all celebrate today's universal spirit. How? Try this. Simply answer this question: "I'm the happiest (and richest) investor because ...", and then he said " And to give you a few clues, here are my "12 New Secrets" to being happy and rich."

Here are his 12 hints:

1. Happiness is making others happy
2. Happiness is doing what you love
3. Happiness is spending less than you earn
4. Happiness is losing yourself in the present moment
5. Happiness is knowing when 'enough is enough'
6. Happiness is being unattached to money and other stuff
7. Happiness is action, doing what's necessary and right
8. Happiness is sometimes you're faking it so good you're happy
9. Happiness is more a bunch of little moments than big deals
10. Happiness is lots of loved ones and a warm puppy
11. Happiness is about doing what you really love [see number 2 above]
    
12. Yes, happiness is also about being rich ... 'rich in spirit'

At the end he said: "So take a moment and answer the question: " I am the happiest (and richest) investor because ..." That's your prize in this contest. It comes from within, an investment that will continue growing, making you richer and richer when you go back to the celebration, to your loved ones.

You can cause happiness wherever you go -- today, and every day. Have a joy filled holiday!"

I find the above the above very inspiring, it showed that being rich and happy are not incompatible. Very appropriate for a MarketWatch article, and something to reflect upon during the holidays.

The article is also reproduced in the Buddhist Channel. The reason must be because many of the ideas are in line with Buddhism as well as with other religions.

For example in the explanation of number 4 above, he quoted Thich Nhat Hanh,
"Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist and was a close friend of the popular Trappist monk Thomas Merton. "In Stepping Into Freedom," Thich says: "Your notions of happiness may be very dangerous. The Buddha says happiness can only be possible in the here and now, so go back and examine deeply your notions and ideas of happiness. You may recognize that the conditions of happiness that are already there in your life are enough. Then happiness will be instantly yours."


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