We talk to a lot of people about their aspirations and what they consider a secure nest egg.  What is “enough” for one is inadequate for another.  The differing perceptions of “enough” remind me of the lyrics to a Sheryl Crow song:  It’s not

[about] having what you want; it’s [about] wanting what you’ve got.  This week we explore some habits of mind to secure your financial independence.

How to Keep Happiness From Fading [and avoid the hedonic treadmill].  As a person makes more money, expectations and desires rise together, which results in no permanent gain in happiness.  We continuously shift our standards upward, and once we’ve reached them, we have to continually shift standards upward to stay satisfied. A Forbes article describes how to avoid the “hedonic” treadmill and keep happiness from fading.  Click here to read the full article

 

What Mountain Climbing Can Teach You About Business.  Mountain climbing teaches a lesson—pack light.  Packing light requires we question our idea of what’s necessary.  When we focus on stripping away what we don’t need, we enjoy life more.  The simpler you make things, the richer the experience becomes.  Click here to read the full article

 

Happiness Is A Choice.  A recent article in Time magazine set forth “seven easy happiness boosters” based on research from Harvard University, including how to spend your money.  These tips were taken from a book authored by happiness guru Shawn Achor, entitled The Happiness Advantage.  Click here to read the full article

 

We hope you enjoy reading these articles along with us and that you find them informative.  Please forward this to your friends and family.

J. Mark Nickell & Co.

Disclosure – The articles mentioned in This Week with J. Mark Nickell & Co. are for information and educational purposes only. They represent a sample of the numerous articles that the firm reads each week to stay current on financial and economic topics. The articles are linked to websites separate from the J. Mark Nickell & Co. website. The opinions expressed in these articles are the opinions of the author and not J. Mark Nickell & Co. This is not an offer to buy or sell any security.  J. Mark Nickell & Co. is under no obligation to update any of the information in these articles. We cannot attest to the accuracy of the data in the articles.