Gifts can be beautiful, expensive, well thought out, or bland. In Netherlands, the 17th-century Tulip-mania made the tulip flower more of an investment than a gift you give a loved one. At the height of the mania in 1637, a single tulip bulb was reportedly sold for 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman. So desired were the flowers that in the 1630s a sailor was jailed after mistaking one for an onion and eating it.
The bubble was fuelled by a combination of factors, including a new and exotic flower—the tulip, that had recently been introduced to Europe, a growing middle class with disposable income to invest, and a futures market that allowed buyers to purchase tulip bulbs that were still in the ground. Eventually, the value of the tulip crashed leaving behind financial ruin for those who had invested.
The Tulip speculative bubble was a situation where the price of a commodity rose to unsustainable levels due to a surge in demand driven by irrational excitement and forecast. A lot of situations and events can arouse our enthusiasm—and much like a speculative bubble, we must be careful what we invest our emotions in.
Rationale vs Emotion
It is very tempting to join a conversation on social media or in real life. A statement can arouse rage and aggression, pleasure and joy, or stress. The dance between our emotions and hormones is sweet and sometimes feels inevitable. This dance routine may result in bad decisions.
Do you give reason a chance? Or do you tend to project your desires onto your estimates of likely success even when reality doesn't support your assumptions? Every day we are faced with choices, that determine where we invest time, money, or emotions. Like the Tulip-mania our estimate of striking it rich in emotional satisfaction after jumping into a conversation may be met with failure.
It is not always when sense prevails that we end up with a satisfying result. We can choose our words wisely and still be frustrated by bullies, sycophants, and the ignorant. So how do we navigate?
What's Crucial?
"We cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them nest in our hair," Martin Luther.
So what's really crucial? We not only need to filter what we say but also what we let preoccupy our inner man. We will bully you even when you choose peace. We will come at you with half-baked facts to suit our biases. We will annoyingly remain loyal to our man even if you are right. Learn to filter our noise or we will consume you.
It is crucial to single out what matters and what really needs our attention. It also helps to have a clear mission. I'm I here for a serious conversation? Has laughter and banter brought me here? Is today a good day to observe? Have I come here to bare my heart and vent my frustrations?
When Jesus Christ was on trial—persecuted and wrongly accused He chose to not defend Himself. He was clear with His mission and therefore speaking against the accusations would be counterproductive. Fighting the internal turmoil of anguish and betrayal; He prevailed like a sheep who remains silent while being sheared.
Ultimately, I hope we realize that not every new topic is worth our time, availability should not always lead to involvement, and the promise of high emotional return should not lead us to engagement. In this world of overwhelming noise, don't devote your emotions to everything.
We all need that break once in a while.
Taking a pause in life ...😊