“The present moment is the only moment we have, and it is the door to all other moments.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

I just spent the past weekend experiencing Esalen on the Big Sur coastline with Rob, my friend of 18 years. It is hard to explain Esalen in one sentence… it is 1 part nature, 1 part connecting with others and 2 parts about discoveries within us. The experience reminded me to be more present in the moment and understand the power of now.

With that said, it still is a bit of a struggle for me to dive right back into all the financial talk. Even though we live in the present, there is nothing wrong with learning from our past or planning for the future. Finances, with all its complications and life permeation, actually hover in the past, present and future.

Most of us need to earn money in order to survive so finances become core to our existence. We can let finances consume us (or drive us or define us) which is the force behind modern day consumerism or we can view money with the same sacredness that can produce an inner calm.

In The Observer, Nick Kettles writes, “By being more detached people become more objective and less likely to be influence by the feeling of emptiness which people often seek to fill through the acquisition of material wealth for its own sake.”

Dayana Yochim from The Motley Fool has her own thoughts about money and happiness. “Sure,” she says, “a $1,000 increase in salary lifts the spirits. But it’s more like a caffeine buzz than a higher plateau of enlightenment.”

“One reason we aspire to the fast track of wealth and power is a phenomenon scientists call the “hedonic treadmill” — how the acquisition of commodities and clout provides a short-term emotional lift that makes us want more. We get a raise, spend it, the extra dough becomes moot, and we want more.”

“What does matter? According to the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center:

1. People with five or more close friends (excluding family members) are 50% more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” than respondents with fewer.
2. A loving marriage (or partnership… I added the politically correct commentary).
3. Good health.
4. A connection with a congregation such as your community or a religious group.

“In the end, happiness is about wanting and managing what you already have.”