A woman calmly enjoys the richness of Nine Pentacles in her private garden, a small paradise. She feels lucky to be blessed with worldly riches (health, money, work) not because it gives her status in the eyes of others, but because of the comfortable life with which it provides her. She is rich, not because she has amassed an extraordinary amount of wealth, but because she has enough. She has what she needs and is not greedy for more.

 

Research shows that our happiness is partially dependent on worldly matters such as our income, but only up to a point. Once wealth reaches a certain level where we can support ourselves and don't have to worry too much about money, additional wealth gains don't make us much happier. Then, why should we strive to be millionaires? Other studies show that money makes us happiest if we:

• spend a good portion of it on others (including charity).

• spend on experiences (e.g. a vacation) rather than goods (a new car).

• spend small amounts of money on several pleasures (e.g. regular day trips) instead of spending a large amount of money on one thing (a three-week vacation).