13 Comments
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Grumpy Nielsen's avatar

It’s easier to say “too expensive” than “I’m afraid I’m not worthy of wanting this.”

😩😩

Helen Higgins's avatar

I’m glad you found a sentence that stood out!

Marie Gaymard's avatar

I posted the link to this article in comment, after mentioning your name in my LinkedIn post this morning :) thanks for proving that human intelligence is still (more than ever ?) highly sexy :)

Helen Higgins's avatar

Thank you so much, Marie. I’m deeply appreciative. Thank you.

Marie Gaymard's avatar

PS : it was in French 🇫🇷

Thanks for writing !

Amanda Christensen's avatar

While reading this I was reminded of a Jeanette Winterson quote, “what you risk reveals what you value.”

Helen Higgins's avatar

That's a really good quote and a really interesting way of looking at it. Thanks, Amanda, it's given me something to reflect on.

I.P's avatar

“Cost is external. Value is internal” absolutely! Couldn’t have said it better!!!?

Chris Heape's avatar

Thank you again Helen,

Spot on and very astute.

In my teaching – design students – I've often tried to get them to understand the difference between value (economic value / price) and values, by using this quote from Oscar Wilde:

“What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.”

— Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Act III (1892).

Thanks for your posts. They're good at getting one to reflect on what one maybe takes for granted.

Best, Chris.

Danielle Gordon's avatar

Loved this 🙏🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Robert R. Odle's avatar

Cost and value, and never mention price?

Helen Higgins's avatar

I tried to avoid price, because what’s deemed “expensive” is subjective, and I didn't really want to focus on that element. If we’re talking about emotional price, again, it's so different for everyone, but it's an interesting point to make.

Xiaobian Poet's avatar

What stayed with me most was your idea that value is autobiographical.

I think the things we learn to value often reveal not only who we are, but also the parts of ourselves we once had to overlook. Sometimes we don't recognize what matters to us until we begin giving ourselves permission to want it.

“Cost” may be something the world can measure, but value feels like the quiet record of a life — the things that made us feel seen, grounded, and more like ourselves. Thank you for this reflection.