By Ken Honda | Published January 10, 2024

You often hear it said that money can’t buy happiness.
But if this is true, why are so many people frantically trying to make more—even committing crimes to get it? 

What I’ve discovered is that when it comes to happiness, not all money is equal. Whether money makes us happy—or not—is about so much more than the number of zeroes on our bank balances. In the thousands of interviews I’ve conducted for my books, I’ve met many people who are happy even though they are not millionaires. 

So how do they do it? 

It’s because they have a good relationship with money. Money doesn’t define who they are. They aren’t hypnotized into thinking that having a bigger house or a flashier car is going to magically transform their life and take away all their problems. They are not controlled by the myth of scarcity. They don’t feel controlled by money—instead, they’ve found that contentment and peace of mind are the keys to true abundance..

What I’ve discovered is that the energy with which money is given and received determines whether or not it brings us happiness.
Money that is earned and spent with frustration, anger, sadness, and despair is Unhappy Money. This kind of money constricts you, making you feel small, ashamed, and stressed. But when money is circulated with gratitude and generosity, that money is Happy Money. It carries the energy of love and makes you and others feel good about life.