(Beautiful Essay)美文+录音20篇
来源：英语周报
发布时间：2009-09-02 18:21:00
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内容提要：Is it worth it?Put first things firstThe power of encouragement
Can money buy happiness?
（第6期）
Many of us dream of having thousands of dollars to spend on anything we desire. We buy lottery tickets, or play the stock market. We’re sure when we have plenty of money, we will be happy. But will we?
While having some money does have an impact on our level of happiness, having a lot of money does not. People in the United States whose income goes from US$20,000 a year to US$50,000 a year are more likely to become more happy. But after US$50,000, happiness does not increase as salaries go up. Why is that?
It’s because we are never satisfied. We always think that if we just had a little more money, we’d be happier, but when we get there, we’re not. The more you make, the more you want. The more you have, the less it brings you joy. We incorrectly assume we’ll get more pleasure from more, and we don’t.
The things money can buy don’t make you happy either. A lot of research suggests that you won’t find the “good life” by buying expensive “toys”. You finally buy that BMW you’ve always wanted and it soon loses its appeal. Then, instead of wondering if a new car is what really makes you happy, you decide you just need a different new car. It’s an endless cycle.
To really be happy, in the first place you need to understand what makes you happy. One secret of happiness is: people. Surveys have found that those who have five or more close friends are 50 percent more likely to describe themselves as “very happy”. Good relationships have a far greater effect on happiness than large raises in salary.
So invest your time and energy in people. The payoff is much bigger in terms of happiness!