The choices:

Get more money.

Or rein in your desires.

There is certainly nothing wrong with taking steps to make more money but cutting back our desires is another useful path to happiness.

As I used to tell my USC students in Los Angeles – all the excesses epitomized in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills or Benedict Canyon really don’t make people any happier.  When the laughter died down, I explained.

The more money we make, ironically, the poorer we often are.

Gratitude for what we have tempers the continuous desire that more is better.

Studies show that of two groups – one on the receiving end of a gift and the other giving that gift away – the group that gave instead of received rated themselves happiest.

In other words, we have enough to feel happy at this very moment.

Recommend these day starters to friends and family here.