are "the rich" really happier?

why are richer people
overall less happy?

first lets agree
that being rich
is itself a relative term.

the one who has more than the other
is considered "rich".

and the group
which has more than the average people on the planet
are "the rich".

had "rich" being an absolute term
even a satisfied comfortable beggar would have qualified for the term.

-

now we turn towards the question
"why are richer people
overall less happy?"

being "rich" is being "infected with the virus of comparison"

being "rich" puts you "at the permanent risk of not being rich"

comparative "rich'ness'" is more of a punishment than a reward!

the moment anyone feels
that he is "rich"
he sub-consciously "switches on"
a pressure to stay "above" others
and stay "rich".

the fear of not remaining rich
turns real!

the "rich" counter this fear
by building the "Safety cushion"
of "reserve riches"

this leads to the next fear
"how much cushion is enough"

thus, as if the fear of not remaining rich was not enough
it gets compounded by
the fear of the cushion being not enough.

this leads to an unending chase
of the "rich" by the hounds of fear!

this breathless chase, inadvertently leads the poor "rich"
into many one-way traps they find impossible to come out!

as if this was not enough
they find unexpected threats
from the winds of change!

--

so where does this lead us to?

should we not be "rich"?
are all "rich" unhappy?
are "poor" happy?

all three questions are traps!

till you use the word "rich" or "poor"
you are in a race
driven by outside factors....

relatives instead of absolutes!

happiness by absolutes has a chance
happiness by relativity has none!