Life Experiences Triumph

"Time lost is time when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavor, enjoyment, and suffering." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

According to a study undertaken by Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, in the long run, life experiences make people happier than material possessions.

In other words, going on a holiday or for a concert will provide more happiness than buying a computer or a home theatre system. It is partly because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day, experts say. Experiences, continue to provide happiness through memories, long after the event.

As part of the study, 154 people enrolled at the San Francisco State University were asked questions about a recent purchase, material or experiential, that they had made in the last three months with the aim of making themselves happy.

While most people were happy with the purchase regardless of what it was, those who wrote about experiences tended to show more satisfaction at the time and after the experience had passed. It also led to a sense of relatedness to others, getting closer to friends and family .

One of the reasons why experiences generated more happiness. Howell says, “When people spend money on life experiences, whether they also take someone with them or buy an extra ticket or whatever, most of our life experiences involve other individuals.”

Another reason for increased happiness in experiences, the researchers found, was that people felt a greater sense of vitality or “being alive” during the experience, and in reflection. “As nice as your new computer is, it’s not going to make you feel alive,” he said. Howell adds that most psychologists who study the phenomenon say people adapt to a new purchase in six to eight weeks, up to a maximum of three months.

Experiences make you happier than material possessions. Buying things gives you some sort of pleasure but it is not everything. Recently I went for a Business conference and combined it with a one day outing with my Dear MSian Mr Sridhar & other friends to Bangarpet.(Dear friends I request you to gothrough the photo gallery of Sridhar Anna,his pictures speaks about the journey of experience,plesant memories & Happiness)

It was a very enjoyable trip and those memories will remain with me. It was definitely a hundred times better than buying something.For instance, I can’t look back with fondness on the purchase of my favourite Yonex Badminton racquet. However, I do cherish the memory of my victory on the badminton tournament.

Experts point out that people are less conscious when comparing experiences than they are about possessions. Possessions tend to bring about a temporary pleasure and the opportunity to keep up with the Joneses, while experiences are memories which can be cherished, with no strings attached.