Have you ever observed how you value things?
If you have, you might have noticed something — you do not value things the same way after you get them as you did before.
People value things enormously before they obtain them. But after they get what they wanted, the feeling flips.
When I say “value,” I am not just talking about things. It applies to relationships, jobs, a new house — everything.
Why does our sense of value change over time?
The Game of Demand and Supply
Our lives work like a business model. Everything runs on the same basic concept — demand and supply.
Value is determined by the balance between the two.
You might not value a glass of water at home. But if you are in a desert with a dry throat, that same glass of water becomes more valuable than anything.
Take relationships. People love each other, flirt, and value the relationship as long as there is a fear of losing each other. After marriage, some stop admiring each other. The demand drops, and so does the perceived value.
This is not everyone’s story. But studies show that divorce rates are high partly because people stop valuing each other after the initial excitement fades.
So how do you keep the value consistent?
Respect the demand and supply at every stage. It is just emotions playing with you when things go up and down.
If you think deeply, the world runs on these two forces. People value something highly when demand is massive. They stop caring when demand disappears.
Money, fame, recognition — they all act as currencies in this game of trading value.