Happiness from Different People

I realized that people have different meaning to the word happiness. A person may claim that happiness is found in the company of friends and family. Others, from exploring different cities and travel. And others, thru the search of knowledge through solitude.

Who is right? Where do we find happiness?

The search for happiness is hard because people are different. Sometimes, we search for happiness because someone told us it is happiness. But I think, that happiness comes from searching one's self. Thru knowing yourself. And then, when you know yourself, you can search for your happiness.

Let me explain what I meant by that. There 4 temperament in personality. I think it is best to start from personalities and temperament if we try to know ourselves.

4 Temperament

• Artisans
• Guardians
• Idealists
• Rationals

Here is where we people find happiness. By knowing our temperament, we know which is our definition of happiness.

The Artisans

The artisans are the artists. The freewilling soul that wants to travel. Therefore, they find and think of happiness as a ride. Experiencing different cultures and cities and traveling the world. They will say that happiness is found in traveling or experiencing different cultures or expressing art. That is true happiness for them.

The Guardians

The guardians are the protectors. They define happiness as being and treasuring their loved ones and friends. Happiness for them is being with family and friends and spending quality time with them. Building new experiences with them. They also think that happiness is found through hard work and being a good loyal serviceman/woman to an organization.

The Idealists

The idealist are inspirers. They think happiness is found by inspiring others to be the best they can be. They think happiness means finding one's self and meaning of life. And they define happiness by helping others, teaching and by developing one's character and virtue.

The Rationals

The rationals are the strategist. They find happiness thru knowledge. Their outmost form of happiness is turning their ideas, visions and plan come to life. They are happy building things, systems and plans. To them, the search for knowledge is the search for happiness itself.

Conclusion

I find this idea really interesting. I used to think that happiness is found by traveling. While I continue to travel, climb mountains, I realized that I don't really find much happiness after a few travels done. It is fun and it does give you a new perspective. But after a few while they are all the same. I mean, people are still the same, where ever you go. And as long as you have the money, you can keep on traveling. 

Then I realized that I was a rational. So the next time, someone told you that true happiness is to travel. You know he's an artisan. When he told you that happiness is being with family, he is a guardian. Know thyself and you'll define your own happiness.

My Contingency Plan

On my 2019 goal, I plan to buy a real estate property to develop as a farm or a school. This goal I think is a long way to go. But I think, it is also important that I execute this right to get the most out of my money.

What I'm trying to say is that, the Philippines is in a bull run. Maybe perhaps, a very over extended bull run. I don't want to bet that its wrong and I don't want to bet most of my money that its right. What I want, is that to win on any kind of scenario.

For example, the bull run we are experiencing today, greatly increased my net worth. With due diligence and discipline of contributing a fix amount of my income 60% to index funds and the remaining to income producing investments, I realized that to take advantage of buying a real estate in the future, I should be prepared for the recession or the real estate bubble.

I think, we are encountering a real estate bubble in the Philippines. There is an oversupply of condominiums and homes. And I think, when this bubble burst, it is the time for me to buy my land or put up a school. Since this is the time, price of real estate are at a discount.

The plan now is to accumulate cash from here on, until the time recession happens. While still contributing to my index fund and income producing streams (they should never stop).

The challenge is raising enough cash to contribute the same amount of money to income producing streams and index fund and still have enough left over for the real estate fund for recession.

I am thinking of putting up another business. Since two of my friends have expressed their interest to start a business and have me as a partner. I think this is a good opportunity as well to earn more.

Philippine Elections 2013

How does it feel to be in a country where you pay the taxes, you work all your life but you don't have any effect on the election results?

The Philippine election is a disappointment.

I think, most people know what I mean. The middle class probably know whom not to vote. But the poor class is still the majority. This is a democratic country. Where the majority is "suppose to be right". It sounds good for most people. But what if the majority is dumb to pick their own leaders?

“The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.” - Aristotle

The middle class who works, pays taxes have no say in this so called display and exercise of freedom and democracy. It's just a load of crap to me. Sugar coated so it sounds politically correct. Since the poor people control the majority, they will continue to whine about how poor they are and how the government should help them. While the middle class will pay the taxes to feed the poor. A very good system if you ask me. Its a very good system to chase away middle class in the country and live abroad. 

And I must admit, this is the first time in my life that I thought that migrating would probably be the best thing to do. And I can see why most Filipinos feel they have to go and live abroad.

The Middle Class Exodus and Democratic Decay in the Philippines

The link above summarizes all the problems and the reason why we are in this state of politics in the Philippines today. It is worth a read.

Being Frugal vs Being Kuripot

My mother knew about the car loan offered at my bank and insisted that I buy a car. And while I defend myself with words such as "I don't need it for now.", she and my siblings called me "kuripot". In my mind I'm just being frugal. But how many people really know the difference between being "kuripot" and being frugal?

A lot of rich people who are self made millionaires, being frugal is one trait they all have in common. Being frugal is a virtue of spending money on things that are necessity or are important for our daily lives. Being frugal means being smart with our money. Being frugal is knowing the consequences of where we put our money.

Being frugal is a mindset. It is not being afraid to spend money. But rather, you know enough the consequences of spending money, that you don't want to commit to the repercussions. For example, you need P1,000,000 to retire. But all of a sudden, you wanted to buy a car. It could be comfortable commute to work and "may" make you productive, but think of the consequences. A brand new car may cost around P600,000. If you spend P600,000 pesos on a new car, you just spring board yourself back a few years. Because of how much years you need to work just to replace P600,000 for your retirement.

Being frugal in a way is delaying gratification. Its ok to commute for now. If it means I could save the P600,000 and achieve my retirement fund.

Being a kuripot is being a "miser". A person who is afraid to spend because he is not confident in replacing the money he spent. A kuripot is someone who thinks far too long to part with his money, even if the money is used for necessities. And then gets angry if the money is lost. A kuripot suffers depression when he losses money. Suffers anxiety when the risk of losing money is great. He would rather stash his money in a box, bury it somewhere (like a savings account) than risk it in an investment.

A kuripot in a way is too attached to money that he is affected by it. A frugal person, knows the use of money and would not matter to him if the money will be used to a better cause.

While people will continue to accuse and laugh at me of being kuripot. I don't mind. We know who will get the last laugh.