Which friend would you value more?
Friend #1
If you go out to eat they cover the bill
If you are going to watch Netflix or go to a movie they let you pick what to watch
They let you pick the music when you are driving
They take care of you when you are sick
They even cook and clean for you
In short, they expect very little in return just some appreciation
Friend #2
They always want to pick what to watch
If you go out to eat they expect you to cover the bill
If they don’t get their way they yell at you and get angry
They expect you to do things for them - to cook for them and clean up after them
In short, expect everything from you and provide very little in return
Why do we have more favor towards our children rather than our parents?
It doesn’t make sense our parents raised us,
they took care of us,
they fed us,
provided us with shelter and protection,
they poured tons of money and made huge sacrifices to raise us…
yet our children do the opposite
They complain,
they are mean to us,
they demand things,
they expect us to do things for them and to take care of them.
Not all of us are parents but all of us were children
Cake Mix
https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/pop-culture/article/cake-mix-history
When they first introduced cake mix in the 1930s it wasn’t a success until the 1950’s
The reason was that prior to 1950’s all one needed to do was just add water,
There was no sense of ownership or accomplishment - can’t take credit
In the 1950s they changed it where you would need to add eggs / sometimes butter and all of a sudden it was a big success?
You would think adding steps would be worse, but it made people’s love of the product more
Ikea Effect – Dan Ariely
The more effort we put into something the more we like it
Paper Origami experiment
Split up into two groups: Builder and Buyers
The builders would make the origami and the buyers would value the work
Builders value their work as more valuable then buyers
But builders also thought that other people would love their work more than they actually did
When they re-did the experiment and gave more difficult instructions regarding how to make the origami (so they took out some of the detail) the builders liked their work even more and the buyers valued it even less
This only holds true if the builder has something to show for in their endeavor - if they are left with a disappointed crumpled paper then this does not hold true.
Or if you cook dinner you think it taste better than others
Or if you make art
The effort we put into it is a big portion of how much we value it
Example of Adam and Eve - they were in Paradise they had everything it was just given to them, yet they gave it all up because they didn’t value what they had.
Abraham
[37:95] He said, "How can you worship what you carve? [37:96] "When GOD has created you, and everything you make!”
[26:69] Narrate to them Abraham's history. [26:70] He said to his father and his people, "What is this you are worshiping?" [26:71] They said, "We worship statues; we are totally devoted to them." [26:72] He said, "Can they hear you when you implore? [26:73] "Can they benefit you, or harm you?" [26:74] They said, "No; but we found our parents doing this."
[26:75] He said, "Do you see these idols that you worship. [26:76] "You and your ancestors. [26:77] "I am against them, for I am devoted only to the Lord of the universe. [26:78] "The One who created me, and guided me. [26:79] "The One who feeds me and waters me. [26:80] "And when I get sick, He heals me. [26:81] "The One who puts me to death, then brings me back to life. [26:82] "The One who hopefully will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.
[9:24] Proclaim: "If your parents, your children, your siblings, your spouses, your family, the money you have earned, a business you worry about, and the homes you cherish are more beloved to you than GOD and His messenger, and the striving in His cause, then just wait until GOD brings His judgment." GOD does not guide the wicked