What actually makes you happier – experiences or things?

Maybe that sports car in your driveway isn’t making you as happy as you think…

In the medical world, we are often fortunate to be on the higher end of the income-earning spectrum. Yet, I think it’s safe to say that we certainly aren’t on the higher end of the happiness spectrum.

We live in a materialistic culture. A quick look around the physician parking lot in my hospital will reveal a lot of Porches, Benz’s, and Beemers. Most of my colleagues live in million-dollar houses (although that isn’t saying much in Toronto), and live expensive lifestyles. At the surface, there’s nothing wrong with that.

But where should I put my priorities? I mean, I need things. I wouldn’t mind a better car or a bigger house. But if I’m concerned with what makes me happier, then how should I allocate my precious income and time?

Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a researcher at Cornell, has spent much of his career trying to answer this question. Experiences or things?

His research suggests that people derive more satisfaction from experiential purchases over material ones.

Here are some reasons why Dr. Gilovich thinks it’s better to spend on experiences.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/what-actually-makes-you-happier-doing-things-or-having-things/