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Blindsided for Happiness - Would you make the Sandra Bullock trade?

Here is an excellent question:  Would you make the trade?  Trade a happy marriage for career success.

Two things happened to Sandra Bullock [in March 2010]. First, she won an Academy Award for best actress. Then came the news reports claiming that her husband is an adulterous jerk. So the philosophic question of the day is: Would you take that as a deal? Would you exchange a tremendous professional triumph for a severe personal blow?

New York Times Op-Ed Columnist  David Brooks The Sandra Bullock Trade

According to one study, joining a group that meets even just once a month produces the same happiness gain as doubling your income. According to another, being married produces a psychic gain equivalent to more than $100,000 a year. 


One method of resolving this question is to understand motivation versus satisfiers as Herzberg described them in his Two Factor Theory.  Money is a satisfier, happiness is a motivator.

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