closely correlated with our high unhappiness index.
Singaporeans are unhappy because they worship materialism rather than achievement.
They think that the pursuit of status symbols will bring happiness but we all know that life doesn't work that way. The Merc you've been dreaming about does nothing for you once it has been acquired. Instead of bringing happiness, it causes stress especially if it's parked in a public space and is at the risk of being vandalised or stolen.
The same applies to Rolexes, Club Memberships, fancy credit cards etc. Once you've got it, the happiness is fleeting and disappears once one of your friends or colleagues shows up with something better.
I'm not saying that we should all give away everything and become hermits in some cave. However, material wealth has to take a back seat to activities which evoke feelings of achievement and contentment for extended periods.
Examples are :
- Mentoring of kids that don't have father figures in their lives.
- Rescuing ill treated animals.
- Exercising with a goal in mind....eg finish a Marathon within a targeted time frame.
- Building a business and selling it when the time is right.
- Taking up fulfilling hobby eg photography, painting, customising cars etc.
- Starting a forum and seeing it through from 0 posts to 1 million posts and counting.
There are many more examples that I could give but I hope this gives a gist of what life is about.
If you choose your goals wisely and you show perseverance and dedication, your finances will take care of themselves. I've never had to worry about money. I concentrated on my non financial targets and the finances have pretty much taken care of themselves.