Money : The Key To Happiness ?
I was born in a modern middle class family, my parents are working professionals and being an only child, I had all the love and support I needed to grow up as happy young man.
Growing up, my relationship with money was almost inexistent. I've been taught from an early age that money wasn’t the key to happiness and I knew that I didn’t need much to be happy, I have the love of my parents, enough food to never go hungry and a shelter.
Somehow my relationship to money changed as I get older, my mind was corrupted by the importance of money in our modern society. I soon fell victim to comparing my lifestyle to my friends and colleagues, working in the fashion industry sure didn't help. I got hungrier and thirstier for earning more money, so I could buy nice clothing, more gadgets, expensive watches, new cameras...etc. But I soon understood that I overestimated the pleasure I get from having more, I wasn't more happy, I didn't feel more fulfilled, my constant quest for accumulation turn me into a zombie of consumerism and a slave to my desires.
So is money the root of all evil? certainly NOT! Money is a necessity, as long as we are living we need to feed ourselves, clothes to protect us from the elements and a roof over our heads. But we shouldn't let our thirst for "excessive accumulation" blind us.
To me, the real key to happiness is love, love that we share with others, with our parents, with our friends. Without love and real affection, one wouldn't be happy with all the money the Central Bank can print.
Why do I trade the financial market if its not to get wealthy? Get rich, get the girls and the Ferrari? I trade not to buy a mansion on Beverly Hills or get the most expensive Patek Phillipe, but I'm trading to master my emotions, be consistent with my goals, and money is just the cherry on the top of the sundae.
VTL