A new study from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania seems to refute a widely held intuitive belief as well as one that has been well-researched. Despite what you may have believed, according to the new study, it turns out that money CAN buy happiness. Or maybe it says that money DOES buy happiness. Well, maybe both, but not exactly either, it turns out if you read the actual study and understand its constructs.

Money does not buy happiness…
There’s been a great deal of media coverage recently about whether or not money can make you happy, much of it inconsistent or unclear. This article in the UK’s Telegraph on March 22, entitled “Money does not buy happiness” quotes research presented at the recent Royal Economic Society’s 2008 annual […]

“Raindrops on roses and
Whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and
Warm woolen mittens”

Julie Andrews sang about them. Oprah has them. And so I now want to do a fun column about “My Favorite Things,” too, to pay homage to some of the things that bring happiness and contentment to my life in the hopes […]

BY GUEST AUTHOR Timothy So
———————————-
“It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed.”
Kin Hubbard
I joined RSG consulting recently, a research and consulting company for management in law industries, and I talked with Reena SenGupta, the founder and director, about the blue side of being a lawyer. According […]

We’ve all heard the sayings: “A penny saved is a penny earned.”� “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”� “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”� “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
But how accurate and helpful are these sayings, anyway?� I started to wonder about this […]

Over the last year, I have started to develop my stories. At first, they simply came out as part of speaking to audiences of lawyers about positive psychology. Eventually, I realized that I was just doing what many of those I admire do also. Marty Seligman has the “Nicky story” and Karen […]

 The pervasive belief in American society is that money is the answer to all of our prayers.  Most Americans believe that if they only had money, they would be able to resolve all of their stress and worries. Most believe the result of obtaining wealth is a life of pure and unending happiness and satisfaction. […]

To expand on my first entry’s musings about income and happiness, I’d like to introduce how the simple principles developed by Mohammad Yunus, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, warrant the interest of positive psychology. If you’ve ever met Professor Yunus, you can immediately see how his kind spirit and strong convictions have helped Grameen […]

Welcome to February.  Has your life changed since the New Year?  Do you want it to?
What is the #1 habit you want to create right now?  Do you want to eat healthier?  Become more organized?  Remember where you put your keys? Give up alcohol?
Here are some new results from Positive Psychology that could help you […]

I’m ecstatic! I look around and feel like positive psychology is everywhere! I’m thrilled that The Economist is exploring what role the market has for our personal happiness and how the New York Times explains the practical application of positive psychology. But then something causes me to wonder, what’s missing?
Essentially, it is the more than […]