I’ve recently started reading a book about Self-Esteem - a person’s overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth.   This book states there is a direct correlation between self-esteem and happiness, the more self-esteem you have, the happier you are.  It’s a good book, and it has lead me to conclude that there is also a direct correlation between self-esteem and money.

But I don’t think that a person that has high self-esteem would necessarily make more money than someone who doesn’t have good self-esteem.  In fact, in some cases, it could be the opposite.  I have met some very successful people who have a lot of money and can afford to buy nice things and yet are not happy.  They want more money.  But how much is enough?  When will they feel good enough about how much they have an what they own?

But of course, it could work the other way, too.  On the opposite end, I know people who earn very little who need to be earning more to get out of debt and save for the future.  But they are afraid to strive for more because they feel they aren’t good enough to succeed.  They don’t put themselves out there and try to get that job they really want or start that business because they fear they will fail.  So they stay unsatisfied with their earnings but at least they are in their comfort zone.

And finally, I know people who have and earn a lot and are happy with their money and those who do not not earn as much and are happy with their money.  A lot of their satisfaction comes from the fact that they are happy with themselves.

So, the funny thing is it almost doesn’t matter how much you earn or have as opposed to how you feel about it.  Maybe next time you think about your cash and find yourself unhappy with how much you earn or have, analyze first why you are unhappy.  Do you really need more or are you just trying to fill an emotional void with a big bank account and more things?  If you find you do need more, why are you not doing what you need to do to go get it?  If you think about this core issue first you might just realize you have enough or find a way to get the money you do really need.