Manson: Money and happiness act like oxygen past a certain baseline
Mark Manson · The Confidence Expert: How To Build UNSHAKEABLE Self Confidence | Mark Manson · Dec 4, 2025 · at 7:55
Author Mark Manson explains his mental model for why chasing wealth and happiness beyond basic stability fails to fulfill people.
“Both money and happiness are They're like oxygen. When you don't have any, they solve everything, but when you have some, it solves nothing, right? So yeah, if you're broke, go get some money. Like, that's definitely gonna solve your problems, and if you're really miserable or depressed, then like, yeah, obviously get some happiness, but if you're already kind of at a steady baseline, like you're in a stable position, chasing more, it's inefficient In a lot of ways. Like, it's not actually gonna satisfy you in any meaningful way.”
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