Rich and Unhappy or Poor and Happy

* Choosing a career that pays well, but makes a person unhappy, and choosing a career that  makes a person  happy,but does not pay well. What is the purpose of life? What is the one thing that truly matters in order to experience a meaningful, gratifying existence? Some people might say that love and happiness are all one needs in order to live a fulfilling life, where no amount of materialistic wealth will amount to the same level of contentment as a life where one’s career is something that one strongly believes in and has passion for.

Others, however, might argue that the only path to an enjoyable life is when one is able to live luxuriously. To have the finest, rarest, most expensive items or clothing is to have value and importance in society, which in turn, makes life worth living. In order to reach this stage, necessary steps need to be taken even if it causes unhappiness doing so.

Choosing a career that ensures a generous paycheck will guarantee a life filled with materialistic commodities, but it doesn’t guarantee the benefits of a career that entices them, such as the drive or desire to work and the gratification one feels that might affect their emotional well being for the better. Yet, Choosing a career that sparks interest and passion guarantees a feeling of fulfillment but may not guarantee a substantial enough pay to enjoy some of society’s luxuries, such as the ability to travel or not having to worry about putting food on the table which otherwise might lead to stress that is harmful to one’s health.

In a perfect world, everyone would be able to choose a career that houses both aspects, but alas, that is not the way the world works. Should one choose a career that pays well, but makes one unhappy? Or should one choose a career that makes one happy, but barely pays the rent. A life filled with the luxuries that our society provides can be seen by many to be a much-desired way to live. For them, the end result overcomes the means to get there, such as a stressful, unrewarding career who’s only redeeming aspect is a substantial paycheck.

The ability to purchase the materialistic objects of ones desires, such as a fancy car, or a big house, is enough for some people to put themselves through school in a programme that doesn’t stimulate them emotionally, or intellectually. Nevertheless, with the disposable income, one would be able to take part in activities outside of work that is enjoyable and stimulating, like traveling or going to various cultural events that are out of reach for those with lower incomes.

However, while one may be enjoying life outside of work, the harsh reality is that one spends the majority of the week at ones job, so in reality, a huge portion of one’s life is spent in apathy and indifference if the work doesn’t invoke any sort of enjoyment. As this continues over the years, depression is likely to follow due to the constant dread and lethargy that goes along with the job, and the realization that it will be like that day in and day out for years to come.

For those who choose this way of life, happiness equates to the number of possessions they gained with their hard earned money, regardless of the mundane work they had to go through in order to achieve it, unless of course, they realize they made a huge mistake choosing money over their actual dreams and aspirations when its already too late. Other people have a completely different view of life as the ones who value money in high regard.

These people see the benefits of a life filled with things that give them satisfaction, with the choice of career being a huge component of it. When one decides to spend the rest of ones life doing something that one is passionate and excited about, the wage it garners wouldn’t be high on one’s list of concerns, especially if it means that waking up every morning wouldn’t be such a dreaded daily event. The mere thought of spending another day doing something one enjoys is enough to keep one motivated throughout the longevity of their career.

There are a few instances however, that may cause certain hesitation. For example, a young aspiring artist might be satisfied with a one-bedroom that doubles as their studio while eating ramen noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner for now, but what if down the road they decide they want to settle down and have a family before they are able to make a profit from their art, which might not never even happen in the first place? The pressure of this realization and the constant worry of having to make ends meet could be detrimental down the line.

Soon, the joys that the job brings could be overshadowed by the stress produced by this situation. Fortunately, most people that choose to go down this path are able to make ends meet and are content with living in the simplest terms as long as their lives revolve around the career of their liking. The decision of choosing which career path to take is probably one the most important, tear-inducing decisions a person has to make in their lifetime. It will dictate the way their life will go from that day forward nd the means on which they must live by. Whether it is a career that will bestow significant financial gain, or a career that will bestow significant personal gain, the decision rests on the personal opinions of the individual’s definition of a happy life. Even though this decision is entirely subjective, there is a stat that is worth mentioning; over a third of an average person’s life is spent working. Is being able to by the latest Prada really worth hating a massive part of one’s existence?