“Are they happy?” is often the question I get asked when I talk about the people who have made the most difference in my financial life. So much so that I consider them my mentors, even though I’ve never met them in person. And for some reason, people continue to believe in the false notion that one cannot be both happy and wealthy.
It’s like they deeply believe that if someone has achieved financial success, they are doomed to a life of misery. Or at least this is what they tell themselves to feel better about their own financial well-being. Either way, it falls under the same false conception that one must be a good person to be wealthy or famous.
One of the realest things I’ve read about this line of thinking is that someone could throw kittens off a bridge and still be wealthier than you can imagine. Because, at the end of the day, money doesn’t care about emotions, feelings, good or bad, or the person whose pocket it’s in.
If some haven’t noticed, money is an object—a thing. At most, it has energy and meaning on how it it used. But just like the stock market doesn’t care whether you’re gay, straight, bisexual, black, white, Hispanic, a good person, or whether you believe in God or not, money doesn’t care either.
It’s why, when the first question someone asks me is if my mentors are happy, I can’t help but give a slight side-eye before responding. Yes, I get that some people chase financial success at the cost of their relationships and happiness, but just like in every other occupation, career, and life path, there are people who have found a balance and understand that work and money are just tools to be used.
You can be happily married and still be a millionaire. You can be unhappily married and be a teacher. It’s about what you value intrinsically, no matter what life path you choose.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that if you choose to further your financial well-being, you have to give up all happiness or change your character. I personally believe that money just magnifies someone’s pre-established character traits rather than changes them overnight.
Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, as there are in almost every statistical fact or identified pattern. But if you are a generally good person, chances are money will magnify those traits.
If you are someone who gives a lot to others, chances are that trait will be magnified once you are financially well off.
Again, money is a tool. Do not think it is more than that, because it is not. It’s a tool that allows you to build a better quality of life if that’s what you seek out, but it cannot replace anything of value when it comes to the relationships in your life and the kind of person you are.
Understand that, and no matter what your account balance reads, you won’t have to fear it ruling your life – money is a tool, not a curse if used accordingly.
The Broke College Student 
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