http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2004/09/24/wealth-does-not-create-individual-happiness-and-it-doesnt-build-a-strong-country-either/ Dr. John Grohol's daily update on all things in psychology and mental health. Since 1999. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:30:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2004/09/24/wealth-does-not-create-individual-happiness-and-it-doesnt-build-a-strong-country-either/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Saulet Lanier Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:50:29 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2004/09/24/wealth-does-not-create-individual-happiness-and-it-doesnt-build-a-strong-country-either/#comment-206 This makes sense to me. I like the philosophy of many European countries, that give lots of holidays and a month of in summer. I believe in the philosophy "work to live" not "live to work." I especially admire the native culture of Thailand, where a high premium is placed on artistic hobbies -- story telling, making elaborate masks and other decorative objects that we see in Thai restaurants here, dance, and religious ritual and community. I believe that Fritjof Capra, in The Turning Point, also discusses how a society that rips workers from their home communities and families of birth, to pursue better jobs elsewhere, uprooting children. Something needs to change, but changing social systems is difficult, because they are complex so a change in one component requires change in many others. Also because an element of unpredictable surprise exists in human behavior, so unintended -- and undesirable -- outcomes are possible from even the most well-intentioned change. This makes sense to me. I like the philosophy of many European countries, that give lots of holidays and a month of in summer. I believe in the philosophy “work to live” not “live to work.” I especially admire the native culture of Thailand, where a high premium is placed on artistic hobbies — story telling, making elaborate masks and other decorative objects that we see in Thai restaurants here, dance, and religious ritual and community. I believe that Fritjof Capra, in The Turning Point, also discusses how a society that rips workers from their home communities and families of birth, to pursue better jobs elsewhere, uprooting children. Something needs to change, but changing social systems is difficult, because they are complex so a change in one component requires change in many others. Also because an element of unpredictable surprise exists in human behavior, so unintended — and undesirable — outcomes are possible from even the most well-intentioned change.

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