"If I Had More Money All My Problems Would Go Away"
How many times have you thought that if you had more money, all your problems would disappear?Trust me, you're not alone.
Morgan Housel, the author of The Psychology of Money,shared a story about actor Will Smith. Smith once said that when he was poor and depressed, he could tell himself, "If only I had more money, all my problems would go away." But when he became rich and was still depressed, that narrative no longer worked. Despite having more money than he could ever spend, the depression remained. He realized that he could no longer say, "If I had more money, I’d be happier," because he already had it—and yet, happiness still eluded him.
It highlights a powerful shift: when he was poor and depressed, there was hope that money would solve everything. But after becoming rich, and still facing the same emotional struggles, that hope was gone.
Jim Carrey once famously said, “I wish everyone could get rich and famous so they could see it’s not the answer to anything.” This rings true for many.
We often think money will solve all our problems. While it can certainly fix some, it can also create new ones. My advice is to focus on identifying the root of your problems—because in many cases, money isn't the solution.
The reason I'm sharing this is because I've experienced both sides. I've had periods where I was temporarily rich but unhappy, and other times when I was living modestly but felt content. Oddly enough, the latter felt far more fulfilling. It’s easy to have money but still feel unfulfilled due to a lack of purpose, meaningful connections, or other deeper issues.
Always remember: if you have an ungrateful heart, no amount of money will ever be enough. The more you get, the more you'll crave, and you’ll never feel satisfied. Be grateful for what you have, work towards financial freedom, but first, find contentment in your current situation.