Feb 08

Protecting the Mentally Ill in Prison

Imagine you’ve just been sentenced to prison. For a month, a year, 10 years, it doesn’t matter. What do you think would be going through your head? What the conditions will be like? Will you be safe from other inmates? How will you handle being confined? Can you survive without your friends and family on a daily basis? All the questions and more will likely be going through your head. And it’s a terrifying prospect.Now try to imagine experiencing all these emotions with a mental illness. Or trying predicting how you’d be able to handle what is undoubtedly an already extremely difficult situation if your brain does not work the same way as6265 most of society’s. A scary picture isn’t it? Unfortunately this is something that many of America’s citizens face.

  • Approximately 1.25 million inmates in federal prisons report some symptoms of mental illness (about ¼ of the federal prison population)
  • State prisons report 56.2% of inmates show the same signs
  • Only about 2% of California’s budget per individual goes to psychiatric care (with some exceptions most states show similar numbers)
  • 38% of people who commit suicide in prison have a history of mental illness

As you can see there are A LOT of things we need to fix within the prison complex, particularly in relation to mental illness. People with mental illness simply need more care than other inmates. So the fact that over half of the inmates in state prisons have mental health issues is extremely troubling. In order to provide proper care for these people, more time and resources need to be directed toward their care. They need treatment, medication, and special care, which they would not receive if they were treated as the average prisoner. This isn’t to make their lives easier per se or to lessen their punishment. It is simply a necessity because they are not completely equipped image001to deal with life within a prison. Therefore more money needs to be directed towards psychiatric services. 2% is quite honestly a pathetic quantity of money to spend when it comes to taking care of people’s well-being and health.

Yes, our nation is hurting economically right now. The whole country is struggling. But these inmates become the responsibility of the state when they are sentenced. Of course, they must have broken some law or done something wrong to deserve their sentence. But they are still people and they deserve to receive proper and necessary care. And for that matter it’s quite possible they broke only a very minor law but receive harsh punishment due to overly punitive laws that exist in many states, particularly California and Texas (as well as other states) with their three strikes sentencing laws. These states have made the decision to send more people to prison with these laws. That is completely their prerogative, but if they are going to make the decision to do this then they need to take care of the people they are sending. Simply put they need to allocate their budget differently in order to properly take care of people. They accepted responsibility for people’s lives and well-being when they were taken into the prison system. And they need to honor that responsibility. Even prisoners deserve proper care and a certain standard of living.

But unless states and the federal government are willing to stand up and do what’s right for these people we will continue high recidivism and suicide rates in inmates with mental health issues. I’m not saying individuals shouldn’t be punished for their mistakes or for breaking the law. But I do think people with mental health issues should receive the proper treatment they deserve. The current situation is just such a tragedy because it’s a problem that we can so easily fix. End three strikes policies. Shift budget requirements. Properly train prison workers to interact with mentally ill individually. DO SOMETHING. Because at this moment we’re not doing anything. And that simply isn’t right.

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Feb 07

Twitter’s Take: The Not Top 10 (Super Bowl Edition)

Let me just start off by saying that I love Twitter. I really do. I realize that there are a lot of Twitter haters out there. (Also known as people who have never had a Twitter…) However, they’re the ones who are really missing out.

Why do I love Twitter? I love Twitter because it gives power to the people. It gives them a voice. It allows them to take a stand. It unites people who are halfway across the world. A great example of this? The #NotBuyingIt campaign, which exploded onto the scene last Sunday.

godaddySuper Bowl commercials are kind of a big deal. They’re the one time a year people actually look forward to seeing ads. It’s the one time of year they have our full attention. The one time we don’t change the channel. It’s all part of the Super Bowl experience. How else would you fit into workplace lunchtime conversation the next day?

However, within the last couple years, viewers have begun to realize the sexist nature of many Super Bowl ads. The blatant sexualization and objectification of women (and an increasing number of men) in many of the commercials have caused people to take a stand. One of the strongest supporters of this movement? A documentary named Miss Representation, which has been working throughout the last couple years to transform the way that women are portrayed in the mainstream media. Miss Representation is responsible for launching the #NotBuyingIt hashtag two years ago, as a means of reminding consumers of the purchasing power they held against the mainstream media. At the 2012 Super Bowl, the hashtag generated nearly one million real-time tweets. However, it really exploded onto the scene last Sunday during Super Bowl 2013, generating more than 10,000 real-time tweets and reaching over 8 million people.

Many of you are familiar with ESPN’s Not Top 10, known for highlighting the greatest sporting failures of the week. In similar fashion, I present to you the greatest commercial failures of the week, as narrated by my beloved fellow Twitter-ites.

10. Axe’s “Lifeguard”

@3PercentConf: Men: lifeguards + astronauts. Women: drowning damsels in distress. #notbuyingit @axe #adwomensb2013

9. 2 Broke Girls “Spectacular”

@tiptoetown: My kids are watching the Super Bowl. Do you mind not demeaning women with strip club scenes! @2BrokeGirls_CBS I’m #NotBuyingIt.

8. Mercedes Benz’s “Soul”

@4thWaveFeminist: along with the car, you get a free blonde, sexy lady! it’s a perk! ummm, try again, @MBUSA. #NotBuyingIt#SB47

7.Gildan’s “Getaway”

           @AskDrDae: @MyGildan Promoting taking off a woman’s clothes while she is passed out? Are you selling rape culture or T-shirts? #NotBuyingIt

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Feb 06

Missionary Work?

When people hear the words donating to Africa, or missionary work in Africa, it is often associated with doing “good”. However, this is not the case in Uganda. Some extremist American Evangelicals are spending their “missionary time” and “donations” supporting the antigay sentiment sweeping Uganda . Their “missionary time” is missionary1spent asking Parliament to speed up the process of enacting the Anti-Homosexual bill, also known as the kill-the-Gays bill . In my opinion this is not missionary work.

Mission work would entail tackling some of the real issues in Uganda. Maternal mortality and morbidity   , displaced child soldiers ,  child malnutrition,  and youth and development issuesare some of the  areas which would benefit from “good missionary work and well meaning  donations”. These challenging areas might benefit from more missionaries committed to doing “missionary work”.

Missionaries should not waste money and time on issues which are taking away from the development, and betterment of the Ugandan people. Instead missionaries in Uganda should start doing real missionary work. Delve into the rewarding work of spreading love, goodwill and empowerment. Implement programs; work with or alongside organizations that are in Ugandan tackling, maternal and morbidity issues, malnutrition, displacement and education issues. Don’t waste time and money on negatives issues than are not beneficial and empowering to the lives of Ugandans.

When people donate money and support their Missionaries out in the field. It is because missionary work is synonymous with doing “good”. Evangelicals should not be involved in the legal or political affair of a country.

Ask Questions

missionary3It is common practice for American churches to send millions of dollars in donations to Africa, to spread their message and do goodwill. Let’s start asking questioning about where the money is going, and what work is being done. Research what your church or organization’s primary role is in that particular region of Africa. What gospel and ideologies do they support and preach in this particular region.  Research the region and see exactly where the needs lie. If we are supporting a cause, make sure it is going towards missionaries that are doing good work such as feeding the hungry and providing shelter. It is great to donate to African regions in need, but take the time to do your research. The inability to do so may result in you inadvertently giving, money to destroying lives.

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Feb 05

When the Past Dictates the Future

France’s desire to build a relationship with Algeria may always be thwarted by colonial past.

History has a way of making its presence known, years after the events that helped shape it are forgotten by a majority of the world.  It is almost as though it wants to remind us that accepting the past is the only way to move into the future.  Perhaps the best contemporary example of this fact is President Francois Hollande, president of France, visiting Algeria, a former French colony.  France ruled over Algeria for 132 years, and its rulership was largely discriminatory and suppressive towards the indigenous population.  Nevertheless, last month President Hollande made a trip to Algeria, with the mission to better relations with the former colony.  However, the positive aspect of the trip was overshadowed by the fact that President Hollande never formally apologized to Algerians for French crimes during the colonial period.

The controversy over France’s lack of repentance cannot be understood unless a little bit of history is drudged up.  French colonization of Algeria began in 1830, and by 1848 the country was officially annexed as a départemente of France.  Indigenous Arabs and Berbers were displaced from their land, as traditional tribal methods of farming and controlling land were replaced with an agricultural method that was economically beneficial for the French.  The much smaller French population became an elite class that quickly marginalized the natives economically, culturally, and politically.  Tensions finally came to a head in 1954, when revolutionary sentiments came to a peak, and Algerians began an eight year long war for independence.  The violent and bloody conflict eventually ended with negotiations, and Algeria formally gained its independence in 1962.  Since then, the country has been fraught with internal leadership tensions, between Islamist political parties, the military, and liberals, and is slowly trying to establish its own identity in the world.

The violence and goriness of the past has not been forgotten by Algerians today, and many have been pressing France for an apology.  These circumstances bring us to the events that occurred last December, when President Hollande stated he was not saying sorry for France’s behavior.  However, he did remark that, “For 132, Algeria was subjected to a brutal and unfair system.  This system has a name: it is colonialism, and I recognize the suffering colonialism inflicted on the Algerian people.”  The quote is most definitely somber and heartfelt, but it brings to mind a myriad of questions.  Two of the most pressing questions are why is the president drudging up Algeria’s past, and is it enough to fix relations between the two countries?    -

The answer to the first question is rooted, unsurprisingly, in politics and economics.  Thousands of Algerians migrate to France every year, and President Hollande gave out promises to streamline the visa process, and make a better effort to integrate Algerians into French society.  According to the French president, the bettering of human relations on the immigration front will mutually benefit the two countries, particularly France.  The French economy has been suffering as the global economy continues on its downward spiral, and President Hollande hopes to increase trade with its former colony.  As of today, Algeria and France’s annual trade amounts to only 10 billion euros, a rather low amount seeing as how Algeria has over 12 billion barrels of oil reserves.  Other countries, like China and Russia, enjoy favorable relations with Algeria, and this has benefited them economically.

Unfortunately for France, I fear that President Hollande’s words do not match his country’s actions.  France has been known for poorly treating its large Arab population, and has become a nation overcome with Islamophobia.  Extreme right politicians like Marine Le Pen have made their dislike for immigrants and the presence of “radical Islam” in France obvious, and this sentiment has been steadily spreading throughout the nation.  According to a Stanford University research study, Muslims are 2.5 times more likely to experience job discrimination than any other racial or ethnic group in France.  These statistics, combined with the overall racism directed towards Arabs, has led Algerians to be wary of France’s abilities to build a positive, sustainable relationship with their country.  Perhaps the best way for the French government to prove that it is willing to work on its bond with Algeria is to ameliorate racial tensions at home.  Laws against job discrimination must be passed, and the Arab population, many who are second or third generation French, should be integrated into society.  Correcting injustice within France will be the most powerful message that can be sent to Algerians abroad, and it may very well be the perfect nonverbal apology.  Until this happens, history will continue to remind Algerians of a past that is filled with nothing but disappointment and pain.

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Feb 01

ADHD: Is Medication the ANSWER?

Taking a look back at my childhood days, I knew I was different than most kids at school.  I was not only shy, but I would get lost in my own world during class.  I would start daydreaming and tune out what the teacher was saying.  I didn’t mean to, but it would just happen.  I had a hard time sitting still and would get fidgety throughout the day.  When the teacher would call on me I would say “I don’t know,” because I really didn’t understand things so quickly.  I would forget to do my homework and do awful on exams.  My grades weren’t very good, my teachers and parents were always worried about me and I just thought I wasn’t that smart. Everytime report cards came home I would get grounded for weeks and be told that I could do so much better.  After years of bad grades and years of grounding, finally my senior year of High School was the turning point. No clue as to what did it, but it happened. I finally started to see what my parents saw in me all these years, that I wasn’t stupid and for the first time in my life I got all A’s and B’s on my report card. My parent’s at this point were in shock not to find one C or D as they were almost to the point of finally doubting my abilities.  After that my grades were at a constant A/B status pretty much all through junior college to my bachelors degree, with maybe only a couple C’s. I was so proud. I thought everything was fine, 200415147-001until I decided to go back to grad school eight years after my undergrad.

When I finally started grad school those old feelings of not being able to focus or concentrate came back.  I also realized that it was taking a while longer for me to understand what I was learning again. This was stressing me out. I finally talked to someone at school and they suggested that I go get tested for ADHD. After numerous different tests administered and a clinical interview I was diagnosed with this disorder  I was sent to the psychiatrist for medication. After a 30 min interview with this guy he sent me off with a script to start on these meds that would make it all better. Believing in this little pill, I took the first one and went to bed.

I woke up in a fog the next day, with blurry vision and feeling like a cloud was over me.  I had cotton mouth, felt jittery and dizzy and like my heart was racing. Was I supposed to feel worse than before? After numerous calls to the doc and trying one other medication I finally realized that it wasn’t for me. There had to be other ways of dealing with this disorder.

When I finally came out of my zombie like state from all meds I decided that I needed to find alternative ways of dealing with this on my own to find what would work best for me. Yes I have a harder time focusing than many ADHD Is Medication the ANSWER2normal people, but I knew there had to be a way to help my brain focus better. Deep breathing, yoga and meditation have helped provide my mind with focus and clarity when I feel my mind wandering. I have also realized through the years that in order to keep my mind better focused and organized I also need to keep my life organized.  I notice that when my living space is disorganized or when my life is chaotic, it is so much harder for me to focus. By paying attention to these things and addressing them early I can keep my life in order. Also, I would think that a healthy lifestyle would contribute to a sharp and focused brain since it would provide exercise and the necessary vitamins and nutrients that any vital organ would need to function.

If you or anyone you know and care about is struggling with this disorder or think they may be struggling with this disorder look into other alternatives before rushing to medication.  You know yourself best, so try the alternatives and pay attention to what works for you.          

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Feb 01

Robin Hood Economics

A serious concern to me, and undoubtedly many, is that the words “I can’t find work” or “The Government needs to help us more,” are much too often heard from people living in developing countries like South Africa and Mozambique in Africa and India in Asia, and to lesser extent in developed countries.These words in particular, come from those in the lower income bracket and by those living in Poverty. I believe that there is a major false premise here. The false premise being, that Government and Government Programs are designed to benefit the imagespoor, at the expense of the wealthy. These programs are often wrongly sold on those lines, to the public. The reality is that the Government programs benefit the Middle class, at the expense of the poor. Why is this so?

The answer is that in a Democracy, political candidates seek a majority. Therefore they target the Middle class, and not the poor. This is because the, Middle class  in all cases, represents the largest Tax Base. More so, the Middle class are often educated and are easily reachable through newspapers, the internet and TV. This multitude of information means that the Middle class are often also the most politically active group. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor Angela Merkel  political campaigns, more than most, were aimed at the Middle class.

Let us take a look at the Empirical research:
Government financing of education

South Africa has one of the highest public investments in education, at 7% of GDP or 20% of state expenditure. Yet only a small percentage of the population have higher education Degrees or Diplomas , all of whom fall into the upper and middle class income bracket. So, who is financing that 20% expenditure? That’s right, every single Continue reading

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Jan 28

Jordanian Elections: Tipping Point

Jordan has largely stayed out of the news since the start of the Arab Spring, as the country has–so far–managed to avoid any major shake-ups or protests.  This may be about to change, however.  Resentment against King Abdullah II has been building for some time, and these elections were a way for his government to show An election official tallies votes in Amman, Jordan commitment to the democratic reforms he has been promising for some time.  Whether or not this is actually the case, however, still remains to be seen.

56% of the 2.3 million registered voters showed up on Wednesday to cast their votes, which pro-government activists claim is a demonstration of support for King Abdullah II and his proposed reform plans to reduce corruption and introduce more democratic institutions.  Government officials insist that the elections are a milestone and that the new assembly is full of critical members who will challenge the government rather than a group of yes men.  They claim that the elections were fraud-free and have gone a long way towards restoring public confidence in the parliament and the government as a whole.

The opposition, however, is not quite so rosy.  The Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood and largest political party in Jordan, boycotted the elections, claiming that electoral law was biased against them.  Others opposed to the election argued that these parliamentary elections are just another tool used by King Abdullah II to cement his power, and so are just a sham.  The Islamists claim that only a fraction of Supporters of Myasar Sardeyeh suspend a picture of Jordan's King Abdullah in front her electoral HQthe country’s registered voters turned up to cast their ballots, and that a large number of the population have not registered to vote since the last elections in 2010--the start of the Arab Spring.

Only time will tell which side is right.  It’s been only a few days since the elections, hardly enough time for anything to happen, but the coming months will show whether or not the government is truly committed to democratic reforms or whether these elections were a sham–just like the last elections and the ones before that. If things go poorly it is likely that Jordan will finally descend into chaos with the rest of the Arab Spring countries.  These elections are a tipping point: if reforms do not meet standards for political reform analysts predict increasing instability and a movement towards political disorder.

Jordan3Economic problems, however, may be at the root of all the commotion in Jordan.  The country is facing an acute financial crisis and recently borrowed 2 billion dollars from the IMF.  Unemployment is quite high, and the county is largely dependent on aid from the Gulf States.  Protests over economic conditions actually preceded protests over corruption and political reform, meaning that economic hardship may be the root cause of any political instability.  If the government cannot begin to resolve these underlying issues, then protests and demonstrations may increase regardless of how much the government does or does not change.

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Jan 25

Girl Problems

In the past year, the rights of women and girls has been on the world center stage of social issues. It is very astonishing that even in the twenty-first century, girls and women all over the world do not have the rights they are entitled to, nor are they treated any better than before. How can we change that forever? It is extremely difficult, but possible. I think it is important to focus on changing societal norms and attitudes. It is not easy to change the societal norms and attitudes that were followed for a long period of time. Girls and women face barriers at almost every point of their lives whether its either health, economic, or even social. I have written several blog posts about women regarding their health, education, and right to sanitation and clean water. I have learned women have great potential but they need to given an opportunity to be able to empower themselves. Everyone knows that gender inequality is one of the biggest problems worldwide. What is everyone doing? We have seen more young women speaking up after events such as the Delhi gang rape in India and the assassination attempt of Malala Yousafzai. Can marches and protests sway and change the attitudes of society? or does aid from a foreign developmental agency automatically make their lives a little easier? 2229752965_8a32fde0d0

According to researchers, women have the potential to ultimately save the world and even the human species. Equal rights for women can dramatically lower birth rates, increase economic productivity and positively impact the health of their families. If there are so many benefits, why are women not treated equally? Traditional cultural views of the women and the patriarchy system in both developing and developed countries are often barriers. For example, According to research by Chineze J. Onyejekwe in parts of Nigeria, if a woman’s husband raped her, she cannot report a rape incident to the local police. As long as she is married to her husband and has attained puberty, her husband cannot be indicted for rape. The Nigerian laws refer to women as property of her husband, father, son, or even brother. The patriarchy system is almost prevalent everywhere in the world and in almost every single culture. It is important to recognize the existence of this patriarchy culture and create strategies to change the views of the people that believe and participate in this culture.

For instance, the Delhi gang rape was a sensational news all over the world. Almost all of my winter break, I saw constant coverage of this incident on almost all south asian news channels. The protests and marches were generating publicity and India’s leaders expressed their grief over this incident. Almost every twenty one minutes a rape is reported in India. Rape is not new to India at all, and in fact it is a growing trend. Whenever a girl or woman reports rape, there is always doubt, disbelief, and suspicion. As a result, rapists in India are more likely to be set free and not be punished for their crime because the system ends up working in their favor. It is all because they are men who live in patriarchy society.                                                          JP-INDIA-2-articleLarge-v3

What can we do? It is hard to change culture and traditional societal views. Fortunately though, anything can be changed. Change should start at home and our own homes are the perfect starting line. First, we can change views in our own families and friends through discussion. After discussion at home, try to talk about these issues in your community which can be in your church or even at school. Discussion can help bring about awareness and at the same time, clear up stereotypes relating to women. Internationally, we can focus on creating strategies that work on changing the patriarchy system and societal norms. Culture and attitudes must change in order to empower women for the long term, otherwise protests and marches may only bring short lived victories.

 

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Jan 25

Celebrating Our Successes: Women in the Military

I realized today that I tend to write solely about negative issues. Or at least only about things I think we need to fix. I don’t have a problem with that in general. However, for this particular post I’d like to approach things a little differently. Instead, I’d like to celebrate a recent success in the women’s rights movement. Because while I really do think we need to be aware of our problems so that we can effectively fix them, we also need to acknowledgewoman-soldier and enjoy our accomplishments equally.
For that purpose, I want to discuss the recent change in the US military’s policy towards women. They have lifted the ban on women in combat making women FINALLY equals within the military. Women will no longer be looked down upon for their “inability” to serve in combat. They will have access to all promotions and career paths. And perhaps most importantly they will finally receive the acknowledgement and credit they deserve. In recent years, women have been taking part in battle all over the world. However, their actions were not gaining them the respect they had earned because of the continued perceived ban on women in combat. But that has all come to an end. Women now have equal opportunity in all areas of the military.
And it seems we have four women in particular to thank. Mary Jennings Hegar. Jennifer Hunt. Zoe Bedell. Colleen Farrell. These women sued the Pentagon in November along with the ACLU to protest the ban on women in combat. In response, the Pentagon loosened the restrictions on female soldiers but didn’t completely remove the ban. That finally happened through an announcement from the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta just yesterday. 0ad4f68de3a919fa5d1ed6dfb04df704The policy has been officially eliminated. Breaking down yet another barrier between women and equality.Unfortunately, the story isn’t all happy. And everyone isn’t happy about it. There are lots of people out there who for whatever reason don’t support the lifting of the ban. They don’t believe women can handle combat conditions. EVEN THOUGH women have been taking part in combat for years. They say women shouldn’t even want to take part in combat. But why shouldn’t women have the right to defend their country? Or they take shots at the administration for lifting the combat ban while also supporting the VAWA bill. These claims are simply ridiculous. Allowing women to fight for the US is in no way connected to a bill designed to protect women from domestic abuse. The two are not similar and claims to the contrary are simply absurd. Happily, it seems these stances are part of a minority opinion.

The majority of people have welcomed the news and are celebrating this as an important step for women’s rights. And I have to say I agree. The US military garners a great deal of respect, as it should. And many people take cues from them in shaping their behavior. The military finally placing women on an equal playing field is an extremely important victory for women’s rights. And we should keep the ball rolling. There are still more actions that need to be taken in order for true equality to exist. But I think we’re going to get there. It’s going to take time. And a lot of hard work. But I think we can do it.

In the meantime, let’s applaud these women in particular, but really all the women in the military. For what they do for our nation and for what they’ve done in the name of women’s rights.

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Jan 24

Why Materialism Doesn’t Work

“The old fable continues to echo down the centuries. The waiting rooms of psychiatrists are filled with rich and successful patients who, in their forties or fifties, suddenly wake up to the fact that a plush suburban home, expensive cars, and even an Ivy League education are not enough to bring peace of mind. Yet people keep hoping that changing the external conditions of their lives will provide a solution. If only they could earn more money, be in better physical shape, or have a more understanding partner, they would really have it made. Even though we recognize that material success may not bring happiness, we engage in an endless struggle to reach external goals, expecting that they will improve life.” – Enjoyment and the Quality of Life (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) 

“Money doesn’t buy happiness.” It’s a phrase often repeated to you when you’re little. Time and time again, you’re taught that it is the big things – trust, compassion, hope, and love – that really matter in the end. However, somewhere along the way, a different storyline begins to emerge. A new dialogue is created – one that focuses on money, and particularly the accumulation of worldly possessions – as the root of all happiness. It is a story told by commercials. Advertisements. Department store catalogues. Yet, individuals’ levels of happiness have remained relatively the same in the last decade, even though the United State’s per-capita GDP has increased by more than 50%. So that begs the question – why do we keep buying into the fallacy? Isn’t it about time we admit to ourselves the glaringly obvious truth? Materialism doesn’t work.

consumerism_Materialism has long played a role in American society. We are a culture focused on the tangible. The here and now. Pleasure and practicality are at the forefront of our existence. We’re always searching for ways to make our lives easier, more comfortable, more enjoyable.

The reality is that for many Americans (certainly not all), but for a significant portion, our basic needs are met. We are fortunate enough to have access to things such as food, water, and adequate shelter. We’re afforded a life of relative comfort. Our survival needs are complete. Yet, we’re still not content. The problem becomes that once all of life’s basic problems are solved, new needs are felt. New desires arise. The inevitable truth is that with rising affluence comes rising expectations. Materialism becomes our quick fix. Our temporary thrill. It becomes part of our identity.

To be honest with you, it’s slightly unfair to blame it all on materialism. It’s not the only culprit. The problem is that materialism is wrapped up within a larger family of extrinsic goals (such as achieving financial success, attractiveness, and popularity), all which emphasize things such as rewards and the need for social approval. Extrinsic goals are contingent on the positive evaluation of others, and consequently the materialistic-seeking individual is often left feeling unsatisfied, frustrated, and/or disappointed when things don’t go their way.

So while I hate to break it to you, your mother was right. Money doesn’t buy happiness. It never has, and it probably never will. Can it bring you short-lived feelings of jubilation? Sure. Life satisfaction? Not so much. At the end of the day, it’s a temporary solution, a cover-up, a bandage of sorts. It’s not meant to last. What does last? Building strong relationships. Engaging in meaningful jobs and hobbies. Finding a purpose that’s greater than yourself. The glaringly obvious, yet all-too-often-ignored truth? Happiness comes from within.

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