Salary isn’t just ‘my money.’ It’s money that should be spent considering yourself today, your future self in 10 years, and your future self in 20 years—that is, your future self together. Therefore, my current income is always, in a way, public money. We need to get approval from our future self before spending now. A bright future is only guaranteed if the future self agrees to the spending. It’s inconvenient to spend other people’s money on your own terms, and thinking of your own money the same way you see others’ cherished money will help you develop good habits for the future. I don’t have an exclusive claim to my own money, as if there’s no such thing as my own air in this world. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Speaking negatively to others stems from my discomfort. Positive language fosters respect and happiness in relationships. This isn’t merely due to the “power of positivity”; it’s how our brains have evolved to interpret it. When asked, “Why don’t you study?” the negative framing prompts the brain to release cortisol, which ramps up stress. Consequently, the brain associates “studying” with unpleasantness. Conversely, if you say, “I appreciate your studying even while you play,” the message shifts. Parents shape children; husbands influence wives, and wives impact husbands. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”