The Fulfilment Curve
This curve explains the relationship between money and happiness. When one is poor, money certainly provides happiness by ensuring food, clothes, shelter (Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan). The next stage is that of comfort stage; TV, Mobile, Fridge, Washing Machine, Dish Washer, marriage, love, family etc.This is followed by the Luxury Stage ; a high-end TV, Refrigerator, Mobile (top end Apple brand) etc. This Stage got created on the back of Brands and Advertising that created aspirations to own STUFF to differentiate oneself on the basis of Brand ownership like be CHANEL, PRADA, APPLE, BMW, MERCEDES, TAJ, BURBERRY, HUGO BOSS, GABANNA, etc. Luxury is the last stage to experience happiness because there is nothing left for money to buy after this stage.
By investing wisely one can even construct a life long cash flow that can provide you the happiness of the luxury stage. Ironically it doesn’t take too much to reach the stage of “Never Settle for Anything Less”. This stage clearly ain’t that difficult to reach as one may think. In the US it is $70000 per annum and in India this stage would need Rs 24 lac per annum to provide all the usual & normal luxuries. Likewise comfort stage in India would be Rs 9lac to Rs 15 lac per annum. Survival would likewise be Rs 2 lac to Rs 6 lac per annum.
The amounts can vary a little here and there but the big picture that you need to see is that “there is ENOUGH for most of us to be happy from things and stuff”. Then how do you sustain this happiness for the rest of life? What do you do after reaching the Luxury Stage? Will money fuel the happiness engine on a sustainable basis? The answer is an EMPHATIC ‘NO’. After reaching the Luxury Stage, one will need to draw happiness from a myriad of other things such as
1) Living a Life of Purpose and having a clear intention to shape and reshape the society, the nation and the world.
2) Look what Bill Gates is doing – eliminating diseases, solving water problems, solving environmental problems etc.
3) Helping people to get educated and become learners and solving pain points of people and the society.
4) Bringing productivity growth in the ecosystem.
5) Working on one’s health and diet so that one can feel good. Money certainly can buy medicines but not good health except for the fees that you may have to pay to engage a good Trainer, Coach or Guru.
Unless you can see your life through the filter of the Fulfilment Curve, you are likely to be a part of the Rat Race and keep chasing money till one day you realise that you have No Time Left. It is very unfortunate that due to conditioning of a poverty stricken childhood and it’s memories, many Indians who have crossed the Luxury mark long ago continue to chase money, live a deprived life, continue to feel very insecure and eventually Die Rich and Live Poor. We are on a Mission to educate people about Financial Literacy and to help them live a Financially healthy and stress free life so that they Live Well and Die Respectfully.
Disclaimer : This Article is only for information Purpose and should not be treated as Financial Advice.
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