Quote of the day:
Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation... even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. -Leonardo da Vinci
According to a recent study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University, the age-old adage that money can't buy happiness is being challenged. The study suggests that using money to buy time is linked to happiness. For example paying to delegate household chores is linked to greater life satisfaction. It does make for interesting reading, what with the whole research, participants and all.
You have to admire the folks who carry out all these research studies and the volunteers who sign up for them. I have never been part of one, so can't say how the process goes. However, having read that study I sought out other recent and interesting research studies particularly in the area of psychology.
One of them being a study about how our brain capacity is ten times greater than previously thought. We've all heard of the myth surrounding the human brain and about how we only use 10% of it. But there is really no scientific evidence to suggest this is true. If our brain capacity is greater than we know -and it may well turn out to be even much more, then think of the infinite opportunities still yet to be developed by the human race.
What if constraints, circumstances or limitations were just temporary roadblocks needed to test our resolve and eventually strengthen our will and character. What if our abilities were so much more varied than we believe. What if we were made to be extra-ordinary, but only see in the mirror an ordinary individual staring back. What if when we think we've reached the limit, it is just the beginning of a brand new chapter in the story of our lives, a blank page to fill in line by line.
If our brain capacity is ten times greater that previously thought, surely we can assume that everything we do moving forward has the potential of being ten times better.
Peace. Love. Light*
Current Listen: Art Blakey - Dat Dere
68 Comments
I believe there is no limit to what we can do ... bad or good.
ReplyDeleteI quite agree on that. As humans we can be surprising. Thanks for your visit and thoughts.
DeleteI sometimes wonder about "studies". I remember when my children were smalle there was a study done to find out why children were injured while riding a tricycle. Millions of dollars were spent. Conclusion? Children were injured because they fell off.
ReplyDeleteThe surprising thing about these studies is that majority of their outcome and answers are obvious, but doing the study I guess adds more weight the the questions often asked. Warm greetings and appreciate your visit!
DeleteI heard a bit about this study on NPR today. Love your da Vinci quote.
ReplyDeleteI guess its all over the place now, fascinating isn't it. Thank you, and nice seeing you on here.
DeleteOn the flip side, I feel its better this way as the human race is more keen on destroying each other (as can be seen in the present world situation) and one can imagine the havoc that can happen in the world especially if the mantle is in the wrong hands.
ReplyDeleteI quite agree on one hand, and on the other wonder about the advancement that could actually be reached -if we haven't destroyed each other by then. Good thoughts, thanks for stopping by to share.
DeleteHuman beings are the masterpiece of creation and made for so much more than we realize. We are capable of great things when we get control of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI like that you said when we control ourselves. The only thing stopping us from greatness is infighting and hatred. We are certainly made for so much more, looking at how far we have come. Many thanks for your visit!
DeleteI love your quotes of the day:)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks indeed, and nice of you to stop by!
DeleteWOW.
ReplyDeleteThe study on money I believe to be more true than the actual saying that it doesn't buy happiness. I know what they mean but honestly I am a happy person. But to have money would allow me to do things that certainly would improve my life...you know like not worry about money to eat.
I am fascinated by the thought of the 2nd study. Would so like to know more and see more about this. You are always so interesting Blogoratti. :-)
Food for thought!
ReplyDeleteUsing money to buy time to pursue other interests makes perfect sense. It would provide time to use some of hat brain capacity!
ReplyDeleteThanks for today's inspiration, I surely need it!
ReplyDeletewell, that sure does make you think??! interesting. ( ;
ReplyDeleteThe thing about the brain . . . you have to keep exercising it. Unfortunately, most adults feel once they're out of school they are no longer obligated to engage it any longer. (Explains some of our choices in our political leaders, huh.)
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing!
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This is amazing!
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This is really good info, and reminds us that we are capable of anything. Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, money can not buy fertility!
ReplyDeleteI wish you a wonderful day!
Thank you for visiting!
Da Vinci seemed to know about how to vitalise a decaying brain, which matches current medical advice on how to prevent alzheimer's.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting read. Many of my friends who have boat loads of $ are content, but I don't know their happy. I'm not rich by any means...just middle class and I'm very happy with my little pied a Terre and dog and sometimes money does buy happiness when I get a hour long massage! My neighbors hands are magic I tell you. I have had you to my reading list, I've been meaning to drop in and thanks you for your funny comments.💋
ReplyDeleteOr 10 times worse, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteHi Blogoratti - yes we can make the world ten times better ... we, each one of us, needs to lead and set examples for others to follow - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSure can just look at it a new way and then maybe 10 times better shall come what may
ReplyDeleteI love the da Vince quote and totally agree that we must keep our minds active and engaged. That include physical exercise, too!
ReplyDeleteNice quote, and so true. Some great comments as well ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like that...potential for being 10 times better! I think that's very true, but people will also fall into the trap of thinking things can be 10 times worse...either way the brain is a powerful little muscle :) I'm one of those people who think that more money would bring me more security and peace of mind, thus making my life a little better - but not necessarily happier.
ReplyDeleteThe study on money is really interesting. For me, money is freedom. I've had it both ways, and I am thankful when money comes my way. I like spending it (as on a safe car to drive or nutritious food) and I love sharing it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the research into brain capacity is very thought provoking.
Thanks for the great post!!
I liked the part in the article, about using money to buy time, where the author says to use money to buy time out of "unpleasant experiences." That's a thought to keep in the back of the mind for future use.
ReplyDeleteJust today I read an article similar to "money can't buy happiness" - it makes you happy when others do your work around the house.
ReplyDeleteWell. It´d cost me some time to trust someone to do that but I sure loved my brain to expand that much :-)
BTW.. I love the smell and feel of rain (though right now we´re getting a tad too much).
Absolutely made me start to wonder if I would be happier if money wasn't a problem. Conclusion...NO! I wouldn't be happier! More money hands you more problems. Someone would always want to borrow from you. You have to pay more taxes the more you have. The telemarketers would be non-stop! The swindlers would try every trick in the book to get what they could and leave you holding the empty money bag. Besides... I like being the middle class. Not rich. Not poor. Just somewhere in-between.
ReplyDeleteStudies can be a pain. Just when you believe you are doing okay or feeling okay...someone has a study about and tell you that your life isn't as good you thought!!!
Great post! Love da Vinci! Has someone done a study on him :)
This post brings up some interesting points and thoughts. I believe that there are no limits to what a person can/could do if they want to achieve something. The human mind is powerful.
ReplyDeleteI love the da Vinci quote.
Great post and have a wonderful day Blogoratti.
Wow! That's quite a revelation! Makes me want to push my brain even harder to learn and discover new things.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Interesting post! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI've always said that money might not buy happiness, but it buys peace of mind--no worries about medical bills or replacing a broken down car.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thank you. While working at Chevron I have seen what money and imagination can do. Can money buy happiness...?
ReplyDeleteMoney can certainly by comfort. Having been homeless, I know this intimately.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. You have a very interesting blog. I've come across very rich people who aren't happy, but I agree that money buys you the freedom to enjoy more of the good things in life - restaurants, travel, etc.
ReplyDeleteI was a researcher in a "previous life." I developed studies, tested hypotheses, and timed or counted results. Using various statistical analyses, I predicted various results. The main problem with many studies is we often have to wait for the proper tools or techniques to be developed before we can go further with our studies. It's like how calculus opened a whole new way of measuring numbers and how computers cut our time to calculate and verify certain data was shortened. Imagine what particle physics was like before accelerators, and what astronomy was like before telescopes and the Hubble satellite.
ReplyDeleteJust think what might have happened if Isaac Newton had the same tools then we take for granted today. Before long, we'll be able to map football brain injuries before the player dies.
This is a really interesting topic, and I agree with Sami that money buys the good or privileged life, although it may not buy happiness.
Wow, that is incredible to know that you were right in the mix of things. The advancement in technology has enabled us to do a lot more in shorter time. And we have barely just scratched the surface in terms of our potential.
DeleteIs is really fascinating to think and imagine that the complexities of life and the human body is being understood more with each passing day.
Thank you for your wonderful insight, and your visit is appreciated.
Well , here I am again thanking you for your visit and kind comment. Loved reading the different views from the comments following your post . Your post is an interesting read which I enjoyed. I think that the study on whether or not money can buy happiness is flawed because there would be too many variables in the lives of the participants . In my case , if I had money to engage a cleaner , my happiness would not come from gaining spare time but the fact that I was paying some one so that they could perhaps enjoy life more .. Just thinking aloud .
ReplyDeleteyour post is very inteesting. Greertings from Poland
ReplyDeleteI always find it interesting to find out how people define 'happiness'. I'm sure today's definition would be so vastly different from the last generation. Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteI think 'capacity' is a meaningless term wrt the brain. What do you consider that we are 'containing'?
ReplyDeleteI suppose buying time by paying for pre-made food would be somewhat akin to paying someone to clean. Time-saving, indeed. But never tastes quite as good as what you make yourself. If you can cook...
ReplyDeleteIf my brain has ten times more capacity than what I'm using, the world is in for a whole heck of a lot more crocheted snowflakes...
After reading this post I found myself saying....ChiChi, Yes you can!!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for this!!! :)
I love to read your posts. Really inspirational.
ReplyDeleteHello, great post and thoughts. I believe we only limit ourselves, that we can do whatever we choose to do. Buying time by having someone else do your chores does sound nice. Thanks for sharing. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteJohn Lennon couldn't have put it better, quite an interesting post.
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Gordon.
...wonderful to hear.
ReplyDeleteMuch of the research out there is just that ~ research, not fact, but definitely 'food for thought' ~ My thoughts are that we all have a given potential at birth how much or how well that becomes developed is up to the individual ~ all the answers lie within ~ sometimes we listen, sometimes we don't ~ listening to self first is key ~ trusting self first ~ Most know what is good for them whether it is the mind, body or spirit ~ Out of balance invariably brings on self sabotage ~ daily practice of realizing we bring on good thoughts ~ not nirvana but good balance. nuff said, I think ~ thanks, ^_^
ReplyDeleteDefinitely true that most of us waste a lot of our brain power on mundane or useless things.
ReplyDeleteWe believe what we buy into and that's not a good thing. We excel when we push the limits of that belief. That's what makes the great folks out there.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
Thank you for coming and visiting my blog, Blogoratti. I do believe that we must continue to challenge our brains. I've seen too much dementia and want to avoid that being my end. About the 10% brain usage... I seem to recall a programme that completely debunked that . We do indeed use much more than 10% of our brain's capacity, even just to function as a living, breathing human being. That being said, planting ourselves in front of a tv set day in and day out can't be too taxing on our brains! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteOnly 10%! Who knows, maybe there's something more to this... Great quote :)
ReplyDeleteOnly 10%! Who knows, maybe there's something more to this... Great quote :)
ReplyDeleteI just read about the "money-strategy" also.
ReplyDeleteDunno.
It would take me a while to trust a stranger clean my stuff.
To get into my condo without me being there...
The 10% - (probably) yes, I could imagine that, it´s a lot about training and willpower, I could guess.
But we give so much at work already, how do you find ressources for this after coming home, after you should rest your brain - no?
Interesting facts about the brain. Money can't buy happiness, but sometimes I'll treat myself in a BIG WAY when I get a little extra hahaha
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Hmmmmm . . .
ReplyDeleteI love reading research studies - it gives great food for thought.
ReplyDeleteMoney can certainly by comfort. Having been homeless, I know this intimately.
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That photo is so compelling! I could just sink into it. Great da Vinci quote. Yeah, spending some money on a housecleaner would bring me a lot of happiness. I've been hinting about it to my husband, and I'm about to move beyond hinting! Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteThen Pharoah said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has ... Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ... our efforts so that we're ten times better than the world in the world's own game.
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Such an interesting post. I heard about that study as well that stated money could in fact buy happiness but I am not convinced that paying for services that might reduce our stress is in actuality providing happiness. That is maybe the person that hires the housekeeper is happy given their circumstance to afford it but clearly some people find happiness in the act of cleaning. It's really all subjective.
ReplyDeleteI love the quote of da Vinci. In the last year I have given a lot of thought to how my age group is handling retirement. It appears that a lot of my peers are now spending their days Facebooking and watching You Tube videos. I am not saying that isn't their choice or that it's wrong but it seems comparable to the "standing water becoming stagnant" I clearly don't have a handle on not becoming a rusty old person but I have to think keeping active and engaged is possible and healthier for mind, body and spirit.
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