What makes one happy? Material possessions are not the sole factor, according to Jeff Golden, a researcher and former Vassar College instructor, who wrote the book “Reclaiming the Sacred: Healing Our Relationships with Ourselves and the World.”
Mr. Golden points to data from institutions like Yale and the University of Rotterdam suggesting that more material wealth is not necessarily accompanied by more happiness, with some studies showing more wealth can herald reduced happiness. He says as more possessions are accumulated, people may spend less quality time with others or lose sleep, suggesting this could be part of the reason happiness is not directly correlated with wealth.