Spiritual Bookshelf Episode 51: How to Build Financial Wisdom – Part 18

Hi there! How’s your week going? Today, we’ll focus on three tendencies:1. Envy / Jealousy TendencyFirst up: envy and jealousy.Think about it: If an animal evolved to feel hungry often, it will strongly want whatever food it sees. If another animal already has that food, conflicts arise. That’s probably how jealousy evolved—and it’s deeply rooted in human nature.Sibling rivalry is a classic example. Kids are often more jealous of brothers and sisters than of strangers. Stories from myths, religion, and literature are full of tales showing how jealousy can lead to hate and harm. In Jewish culture, for example, envy is seen as especially dangerous—Moses’ laws even forbid it, and prophets warn against coveting a neighbor’s donkey!Even today, jealousy is everywhere. A university finance director or a top surgeon getting paid way more than usual can stir campus gossip. And in investment banks or law firms, the effect is often stronger. Many big law firms deliberately keep senior partners’ pay similar, so jealousy doesn’t cause chaos.Charlie Munger once told me, sharing decades of observation with Warren Buffett: “It’s not greed that drives the world—it’s envy.”That’s basically true, yet strangely, psychology textbooks rarely mention envy or jealousy. It’s almost a taboo topic, maybe because saying someone is motivated by envy implies they’re childish, which can be insulting—especially if their position is correct.Even today, envy pushes people to improve—work harder, learn more, exercise—but unchecked, it can harm relationships or lead to irrational actions.2. Reciprocation TendencyNext: the tendency to reciprocate. Humans, like other social animals, naturally return favors—or retaliate when harmed. This instinct is key for team cooperation and trust.This tendency builds strong, lasting relationships and encourages cooperation. But it can also create conflicts. In wars, retaliation can spiral into extreme violence. One clever strategy is to delay your reaction. My friend Thomas Murphy often says: “If you feel like shouting at someone, wait until tomorrow.”Even in business, small acts of kindness can influence decisions. Robert Cialdini’s famous experiment shows this: researchers asked strangers to help lead troubled kids to a zoo. About 1 in 6 agreed. Later, asking the same people for a small favor first, then the big favor, increased compliance dramatically—people subconsciously felt the need to reciprocate.Reciprocation is powerful and often subconscious. Smart managers understand this: Sam Walton, for example, forbade his buyers from accepting any gifts, even a hot dog, to avoid subconscious bias.3. GratitudeFinally: gratitude. While reciprocation drives actions, gratitude affects our inner mind. Neuroscience shows that feeling gratitude changes the brain:You can practice gratitude easily:              •Every day, write down 3 things you’re thankful for              •Say thank you or recognize others’ efforts              •Encourage gratitude in your team or familyThat’s it for today’s episode! I hope you found some ideas useful. Try practicing one of these tendencies this week—maybe notice envy and channel it to improve yourself, or show gratitude in small ways.If you enjoyed today’s show, please subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit.Remember: paying attention to these tendencies can help you grow smarter, more mindful, and happier in life.Take care, and see you next time!