Hi there,
Welcome to issue twenty-four of The Bright Side, where I walk you through the process of changing your life 3-15 minutes at a time.
Last week, I asked: What matters more for a long and happy life - love or money?
The results are in, and they're fascinating...
💖 Love: 75.2% (231 votes)
💰 Money: 24.8% (76 votes)
Not surprised that so many of you beautiful people chose love as the clear winner! But is it really that simple? Let's dig deeper...
The Power of Love
Science backs up our poll results. Take every opportunity to build long-lasting sparks with the ones you like and love. Why? Because…
- It boosts your immune system
- Lowers stress and anxiety
- Feeling close makes your days so much sweeter, right?
Money Matters Too
While love took the lead, don't ignore the role of financial stability:
- It reduces daily stress, feeling greater peace
- You'll have access to better healthcare
- It allows for more experiences that enrich your life
The sweet spot? Having enough money to meet your needs, but not chasing wealth at the expense of relationships.
The balance of money + love delivers the most impact.
Get this! A groundbreaking 80-year Harvard study found that close relationships are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.
But here's the kicker: money troubles can seriously mess with your relationships, tanking satisfaction by almost a third!
Not always easy, but what little practices can you do every day that build towards both?
🎯Actions:
- 3-min: List three people who bring joy to your life. How can you strengthen those connections this week?
- 5-min: Reflect on your relationship with money. Is it serving your overall happiness? Really?!
- 15-min: Plan a free or low-cost activity with someone on your short list. Remember, quality time doesn't have to be expensive!
It's quite interesting to reflect on our own lives and the age-old question of love v. money. Not always in our control, yet I've found inspiration in Henry David Thoreau's words: "wealth is the ability to fully experience life."
In raising my son and building our family life, I've tried to embrace this idea. Perhaps we all have the opportunity, in our own ways, to be intentional about our lives and mindset, whatever our circumstances.
In your corner,
P.S. For our next issue: What's your ‘secret sauce’ daily habit that gets you ahead? Click here—I am so curious to know (oh, and all TBS polls are anonymous🤓)!
I'll share the results in my next issue.
