What do love, money and happiness have in common? The answer to this question cannot be found at North Grand Mall. Nor can the answer be found on the corner of Lincoln Way and Duff at Flowerama.

In fact, the answer cannot be found anywhere — love, money and happiness have nothing in common. Many have tried to sew the three together with threads of delusion but have been hurt time and time again by the needle of reality. Money cannot buy happiness, and neither can it buy love.

It is difficult to see that this statement is true because the American society is very materialistic. We have commercials that tell people that every kiss begins with Kay jewelry and that normal people unwrap Jaguars for Christmas. Sooner or later, it becomes difficult to separate reality from the fairy tales told by these commercials. It is just like famed American author Robert Collier said: “Constant repetition carries conviction.”

If you want evidence that money cannot buy love or happiness, take a look at celebrities. The marriage between Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra in 1998 lasted just nine days. Famed Hollywood producer Robert Evans’ marriage to Catherine Oxenberg, also in 1998, lasted just 12 days.

And who can forget the infamous marriage between Britney Spears and Jason Alexander last January in Las Vegas? That marriage lasted less than a day.

Materialism is a result of unfulfilled psychological needs. Dr. Alvin Pouissant, a clinical professor of psychiatry and faculty associate dean for student affairs at Harvard medical school, addressed a similar issue in his book, “Lay my Burden Down.” In his book, he speaks specifically on how slavery and its aftermath have crippled the black bravado. It is not surprising that what is now known as “black or hip-hop culture” includes flashy cars and bling.

According to Dr. Pouissant, suicides among black youths increased 114 percent from 1980 to 1995, even as the total suicide rate in America declined dramatically during this period. Hip-hop is a collective adaptation by black people to a unique set of circumstances. That adaptation, which encourages black people to make material things a goal, has resulted in many problems, including increased violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

All the evidence shows money cannot buy love or happiness, but somehow people still get fooled by the perception that celebrities are the happiest people on earth. Money can buy fun, comfort and excitement, but that doesn’t translate into happiness if a person’s whole life revolves around it.

In 1994, hip-hop star 50 Cent was arrested for selling heroin and crack. Faith Evans was arrested for possession of marijuana and cocaine. In 2001, Winona Ryder was arrested after shoplifting from a Beverly Hills store. The list of celebrities who have problems is almost endless.

Blind materialism is harmful to people because it cripples their ability to satisfy psychological needs for relationships, self-esteem and autonomy.

If all of someone’s self-esteem is based on material things, what happens if the person loses his or her money?

What happens when a person is not able to achieve the material success he or she thinks would bring happiness?

If a couple’s marriage is based on wealth, what happens when they go through a difficult financial period? My guess is that there will be depression, aggression and even self-destruction.

The truth is sharp and pointed, and eventually it will pierce through any fabric of lies with which we might choose to clothe ourselves.

In the long run, materialism leads to wounded relationships and wounded lives.

The only way to stop the bleeding is to stop attempting to weave love, money and happiness together.