Having More Doesn't Always Make Us Happier. | Gretchen Rubin [Skip to content](#content) [ ![](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/gretchenrubin-logo-768x344.png) ](https://gretchenrubin.com) - September 6, 2016 # Having More Doesn’t Always Make Us Happier. Happier with Gretchen Rubin [Listen OnSpotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tFy42eIPym416vH0mhu6h)[Listen OnPandora](http://app.stitcher.com/splayer/f/61836/46214245) Little: Having More Doesn’t Always Make Us Happier ![Little: Having More Doesn’t Always Make Us Happier](https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/12115b80-34f7-11f1-8af6-abbf9e31cb60/image/f255fc2790d879c623f0beb2f1ec2fbc.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress) Show Podcast Information EPISODE NOTES I wrote about this story in my book [***The Happiness Project***](http://amzn.to/2bSUfBy); its lesson is just as true for adults as for children. I’ve never forgotten about that little boy saying sadly, **“I can’t love lots of cars.”** If you like this story, and would like to hear more wisdom from the teacher who told it to me, you can check out the excellent book that she wrote with her colleague: [***Practical Wisdom for Parents: Raising Self-Confident Children in the Preschool Years***](http://amzn.to/2bSUfBy), by Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaum. If you want to get the **“[Moment of Happiness](/#newsletter)“** newsletter, where I email you a **quote about happiness or human nature every morning**, sign up [**here**](/#newsletter). I love gathering and sharing quotations. #### LATEST EPISODES [ ](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/travel-hacks-for-a-happier-summer/) [Travel Hacks for a Happier Summer](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/travel-hacks-for-a-happier-summer/) - June 6, 2026 [ ](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/reflect-on-a-bittersweet-milestone-moment-plus-a-new-addition-to-our-treat-yourself-like-series/) [Reflect on a Bittersweet Milestone Moment, Plus a New Addition to Our “Treat Yourself Like” Series](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/reflect-on-a-bittersweet-milestone-moment-plus-a-new-addition-to-our-treat-yourself-like-series/) - June 3, 2026 [ ](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/little-happier-the-hard-lesson-i-learned-from-my-daughters-tattoo/) [Little Happier: The Hard Lesson I Learned from My Daughter’s Tattoo](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/little-happier-the-hard-lesson-i-learned-from-my-daughters-tattoo/) - June 1, 2026 #### YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE [ ](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/podcast-episode-90-the-essential-7-for-happiness-good-habits/) [Podcast 90: Very Special Episode on the “Essential 7” for Happiness and Good Habits.](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/podcast-episode-90-the-essential-7-for-happiness-good-habits/) - November 9, 2016 [ ](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/podcast-127-happier-relationship-repair/) [Podcast 127: Make or Accept a Relationship “Repair Attempt,” A Sharpie-Related Travel Hack, and a Vow to Write More Legibly.](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/podcast-127-happier-relationship-repair/) - July 26, 2017 [ ](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/little-happier-dont-check-every-box/) [More Advice about How to Be Successful — Check Every Box.](https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/little-happier-dont-check-every-box/) - June 26, 2017 #### DISCOVER MORE # Like what you see? 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