Emotional Math

Emotional Math

Math is emotional when it meets money
Fear and elation eschew calculation
Generalization effaces precision
There’s always enough to buy all this stuff!
Or is it really not nearly?
One thing’s for sure, with the lens du jour,
Emotional math can’t see clearly

Can you relate to this poem?

I chose it for this week's inspiration to illustrate the influence of filters on the choices people see and the choices they make.

We all have filters that impact how we perceive ourselves and our circumstances, others and the world as a whole.

Let's take a look at the first line of the poem.

Math is emotional when it meets money

Math is the best example of something objective that I can think of.

It is what it is. 2+2 =4 always, under all circumstances, for all those who calculate.

Money, on the other hand, is often charged with emotion.

I will use myself as an example.

It is important to me to be able to buy everything I want and need without worry. When I perceive that I can't buy what I want, I feel resentment about my circumstance, and when I perceive that I cannot buy what I need, I feel fear. On the other hand, when I perceive that I can buy what I want and need, I feel secure and content.

Notice I said perceive.

Being able to make a purchase comes down to math - $2+$2=$4. I have 4$. Is $4 enough to make the purchase? Yes - I can buy it. No - I cannot buy it.

My perception of my ability to purchase without worry is formed by my emotions.

This perception determines not only what I buy , but how I choose to handle money. For example, I may make a financial decision without doing the math to find out precisely how much money I have. 

Fear and elation eschew calculation
Generalization effaces precision

What emotions do you feel about money in general?

What are you inclined to do when you receive money? 

What is your gut reaction when you see something you want or need to buy?

Emotions around money come from your experiences with money and and the value you place on it.

Your answers to the questions above reveal the filters through which you see money.

These filters shade our perception much like glasses. Through our filters we form assumptions of scarcity or abundance.

For example, someone who views money through rose-colored glasses will likely assume abundance like the 4th line of the poem.

There's always enough to buy all this stuff!  

On the other hand, someone who views money through black glasses will likely assume scarcity as in the 5th line of the poem.

Or is there really not nearly?


Some people vacillate between perceptions of scarcity and abundance, which leads to the confusion described in the last two lines of the poem.

One thing’s for sure, with the lens du jour,
Emotional math can’t see clearly


Although I have used money to introduce the concept of filters and the associated assumptions of scarcity and abundance, this is only one example.

We make assumptions of scarcity and abundance in many other aspects of life such as love, opportunity, success, trust, and sincerity to name a few.

As food for thought, spend some time in self-examination of your filters and the assumptions that come from them.

You always have a choice to change the glasses your are wearing.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts!

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