When we exchange what we need, we use money as a medium instead of trading ‘goods for goods.’ In this context, money acts as a means of exchange. When we exchange what we need, we also build wealth by passing on added value to each other. In other words, money functions as both a medium of exchange and a measure of value, as well as a tool for accumulating wealth. But isn’t this a bit strange? Although exchange value comes from goods and surplus is generated from this exchange value, the object used to measure and accumulate wealth is money, not goods. This is because money alone has the privilege called ‘compulsory circulation power.’ In other words, even if value is created, added value cannot be realized unless it’s exchanged. The ability to enable such exchanges is what we call ‘compulsory circulation power.’ - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
A balloon will pop when placed atop a single pointed needle. However, if you drive the needle with multiple thumbtacks arranged like a rug, the balloon won’t burst. This illustrates that the impact of sharpness can depend on context. Even if we face inner turmoil, the way we position our challenges and the situations we create can transform those difficulties into connections rather than sources of pain. The key lies in how we manage the distribution of sharpness rather than the sharpness itself. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”