Pictured here: people who don’t really think they’re great.

No one thinks they’re so great because they’re so rich – in fact, it’s actually just the opposite if you believe new research from University of Buffalo. In this study, professors prove that basing our self-esteem on our bank accounts actually makes us pretty darn miserable – even if those bank balances are big.

“We found that people who highly based their self-worth on financial success used more negative emotion-related words, like sadness and anger,” says Lora Park, an associate professor who led the study.

When tying our self-esteem to net worth, there are three negative consequences. First, we’re very busy comparing ourselves to others, which happiness experts have warned through the ages is a recipe for depression. Second, we feel less in control of our own lives and let’s face it, who’s happy, self-confident and out-of-control all at the same time? (No one.) And finally, even a tiny financial stress – and certainly the weight of feeling that  someone else has more and therefore is more (which even rich people feel) — will produce anxiety and stress. (It’s a headache just reading about it.)

Good news: we can combat the strain of money-based confidence simply by focusing on our strengths, the research proves. That’s right, if you’re feeling bad about your beat up car, think more about your camping skills, your tennis game, your expert chili burgers. Then invite me over.