Economist Richard Layard believes that although people are getting wealthier and living more comfortably, they’re not getting happier. He argues in HAPPINESS: LESSONS FROM A NEW SCIENCE that a “zero-sum game of competition for money and status has gripped rich societies, and that this rat race is a big source of unhappiness.” Studies show that only about 30% of Americans identify themselves as “very happy,” a number that has remained constant since the 1950s despite the fact that incomes have doubled (even taking inflation into account).
To judge by actions, consumerism is a cherished value in contemporary American society. Yet trusting in more and better things to make us happy is misplaced trust. Only faith in God can bring meaning to our lives.
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Today in the Word, June 2007
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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #20907]