The text beneath the title reads as; When it comes to being happy, there is no magic bullet, but the latest research suggests we may be able to cultivate positive emotions and well-being through a variety of activities, many of which do not involve spending money. That being said, money does play a role—and it’s not so much about how much you have, but how you choose to use it.
The picture at the top left shows a graduation cap and a degree. The text reads, Yes! Going to college. Higher levels of education have been linked to greater happiness, Trostel, 2015, October 14. The picture in the middle shows a violin and a music note. The text reads, Yes! Achieving flow While studying, working, or pursuing an interest, allow yourself to become completely absorbed in challenging and rewarding tasks, Csikszentmihalyi, 1999; Culbertson, Fullagar, Simmons, and Zhu, 2015. The picture on the top right shows several shopping bags. The text reads, No! Buying new stuff. Buying new things may provide temporary pleasure, but they are unlikely to increase long-term happiness. Citation; Donnelly, Ksendzova, Howell, Vohs, and Baumeister, 2016; Lyubomirsky et al., 2005.
In the second row on the left, several stick figures holding hands. The text reads, Yes! Prioritizing relationships. Cultivating deep and meaningful relationships with family and friends seems to bolster happiness., Helliwell, Layard, and Sachs, 2018.On the right, a grocery van is shown with text reading, Yes! Buying time Paying for timesaving services, such as grocery delivery, is associated with greater life satisfaction. Citation; Whillans, Dunn, Paul Smeets, Bekkers, and Norton, 2017, page 1.
The third row left shows several currency bundles with the text reading No! Becoming a millionaire. Salary increases may boost happiness, but most data suggest that after basic needs have been met, additional income is not associated with increases in well-being, Mogilner and Norton, 2016, page 12. On the right, a yoga mat and dumbbells are shown with text reading Maybe moving your body. Physically active people are generally happier than their sedentary peers. Citation; Lathia, Sandstrom, Mascolo, and Rentfrow, 2017.
On the fourth row left, a heart-shaped graphic with the words, thank you, is shown. Text reads, Yes! Counting your blessings. Being grateful for what you have may lead to less stress and greater well-being, Emmons and McCullough, 2003; Krejtz, Nezlek, Michnicka, Holas, and Rusanowska, 2016. At the center picture of the bottom row, concert tickets are shown. The text reads, Maybe Buying experiences Investing in vacations, restaurant meals, and other activities is more likely to promote enduring happiness than purchasing material items, Gilovich and Kumar, 2015. The bottom row right shows a picture of a gift. Text reads, Yes! Being kind and generous. Whether you are buying a gift or donating to charity, spending money on others is likely to increase your happiness. Citation; Dunn, Aknin, and Nortin, 2014; Park et al., 2017.