Right so we were pretty poor when I was younger and (I think) as a result of that I have spent pretty much all of my life wanting to have a lot of money. I was quite materialistic and the thrill of having new thing excited me. I now have a good job that pays a lot of money and I don't really care for it anymore. I feel quite empty. Like all those things that I wanted so bad actually don't mean anything. I used to feel awesome when I brought something before because I had to wait ages for it. Now I just go out and buy it and I don't get the same satisfaction. I feel like a pole vaulter that's trained his whole life to jump over that pole who all of a sudden asks himself "Why am I jumping over this pole?". I don't think it's depression because I'm generally a very positive, happy person. I still am, but I feel like somethings missing. Or changed... Not 100% sure. Anyone else experienced this before? Will it go away?
Well ya know what they say - money can't buy happiness. It's ironic that this is in the mental health forum because happiness is largely chemical. I don't think money or things is really the issue. Take that 2 weeks paid vacation that your swanky job gives you, get some sunshine and relax, eat good food, meet new people. It's normal to feel a sort of listless dissatisfaction with life, especially when you've settled into a career. You can't expect bringing home a new thing to relieve that, but you can accept your financial security as a freedom that allows you to seek what makes you happy.
people who study happiness seem to have a fairly good understanding of what makes people happy I think that the research indicates that as long as you have your basic material needs met, your health and your relationships are much better predictors of your happiness. having something to do to occupy your time is relevant too. regular, gentle exercise, meditation, and a diet of fresh, lightly cooked whole foods may help your health getting acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine can help you avoid getting sick or treat illness maybe take up an hobby or an interest that puts in community with people who have a similar interest volunteering might help you find community and also give you some good karma there are lots of folks who are as poor or poorer than you were. maybe you could try to help them
Thanks for the replies, guys. I do try and help the less fortunate as much as I can. I always have done. I booked a holiday the other day and, to be honest, I wasn't that excited about it. I just don't get it. It's not as if these things have come to me easily. I have worked very, very hard to get to where I am now. I set myself very high standards to live by (Excercise, eating, the way I treat others etc) and I set myself goals to reach and now I'm here (I still have room to improve) it feels empty. I guess it's maybe a realisation that the things I thought I needed to make me happy weren't all that. The only thing that's changed is the money though. And I was happy before? Maybe I'm over-analysing it a bit...
it's called having an ego and finally experiencing what you want. normal. diddling around and being entertained for a lifetime is no easy task, but it's a task we all have. Take a vacation or buy something new. Or just stop crabbing that you're finally rich. Does not sound so terrible to me. :daisy:
Maybe you need a woman , Either that or go buget traveling grow some dreadies hitch hike and re-experiance the type of mindset you are trying to recapture as a child/adolecent with the poverditic situation you'll try to recreate but you'll need another week or four off to do this good luck with whatever surely three months after your vaca you'll still feel unfulfilled, get in to music write your own songs two or three and playem on a city strip just soak up the simplisity. ~Namaste/Oi Oi Oi!
