The Inflation of Inflation – Put Your Gratitude Noise-Cancelling Headphones On!

Inflation Of Inflation

Did you know that if you stacked all the dollars printed during inflation periods in history, you could probably climb halfway to the moon? Okay, maybe not literally ;)

But here’s the thing—I feel this “inflation” isn’t just about money anymore. It’s about everything. Stress? Inflated. Expectations? Inflated. Peer pressure? Oh, that’s breaking records too. Even emotions are overinflated, stretching us thinner than a balloon on its last breath.

Recently, my younger daughter, a college student, was telling me how everyone in her circle is so stressed and worried about the future, mental health, and job prospects. With all the recent happenings, the negative rhetoric, and the unprofessional tones by leaders, she’s feeling the weight of it all and wondering what her future might look like. And then there’s my elder son. We as parents feel so blessed by all he’s accomplished—he’s turned into an incredible human being. But he always feels like he’s running a race against time, constantly raising his own bar—driven by overambitious peer pressure and this relentless fear of not being “enough.”

And honestly? This isn’t just my kids’ story. It feels like everyone’s story right now. At work, the same patterns emerge. People are quick to complain and slow to celebrate. Wins are ignored, but problems? They’re on full display. Expectations inflate endlessly, resources shrink, and we all end up stuck on this hamster wheel of inflated problems and deflated morale.

It made me wonder—are we turning life into an endless marathon where no one’s allowed to enjoy the water breaks? Or worse, are we setting up the next generation to crumble under the weight of this self-inflicted stress??

We’re drowning in unnecessary noise, and it’s exhausting! This constant noise, this endless chase—it’s draining the joy out of life.

Besides, negativity is contagious and distracting.

I think we’re literally inflating our emotions sometimes, aren’t we?

This reminds me of Ellen DeGeneres’ stand-up Here and Now. She joked about how we’ve turned life into a storm of chaos:

"Are you sad? Do you get stressed? Do you have anxiety? Yes, I have all those things! I'm alive!"

Ellen is spot on—we’re all suffering from TBD: “Too Busy Disorder.” Life feels like one giant to-do list!

Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t have empathy for others—real disorders exist, and they’re important. But let’s be honest, we’re admiring our problems so much that we’re losing sight of solutions. We need to pause and smell the roses. Even the best machine overheats and slows down if the trash bin gets full.

So what message do I owe to my kids—or to this next generation—or even myself?

Put Your Gratitude Noise-Cancelling Headphones On

Gratitude? Well, I do believe in the true power of gratitude! And it’s such a simple and accessible tool—a way to bring clarity and balance back into our lives. Obviously, gratitude won’t erase the challenges or won’t make the noise disappear completely. But it will help turn down the volume. Gratitude is like noise-cancelling headphones for your self-talk. It filters out the static and helps you focus on what truly matters. Gratitude also teaches you to accept people as they are. You may think someone is strange, difficult, or even “bad,” but it gives you the openness to see all sides—to understand that everyone has their complexities, their good and bad. It helps you embrace the full picture without judgment and find peace in accepting those differences.

So… Do I tell them that this weird behavior is unacceptable, so just ignore it, focus on your own stuff, and everything will be fine? But, of course, be polite. Show kindness.?

Do I tell them to either change others or change themselves—and just compromise to adjust to the change?

And simply practice gratitude?

But here’s the thing—let’s be real, it’s not all sunshine and unicorns! You’ll always encounter a mix of personalities along the way. And it’s not fair for anyone to feel forced to change just to fit into such “inflated” behaviors. As my former boss Andrew used to say,

“Perfection is the enemy of good.”

Stop obsessing over every tiny detail—progress matters. Celebrate the small wins and keep moving forward with continuous improvement.

The key is to accept the differences, embrace the similarities, and keep moving forward—but cleverly!

As another one of my bosses once said,

“Sometimes you have to carry your pepper spray for the toxic people around you.”

A little humor, of course—but it’s a reminder to stay prepared, set boundaries, and protect your well-being from negativity.

So, I suggest preparing yourself—and your kids—for the new norms by encouraging them to be assertive rather than aggressive, resilient rather than overly polite or mellow. Teach them to thrive in life, not just survive.

And for heaven’s sake, leave your emotional baggage at the door. Your coworkers—and your family—will thank you for it.

My Cup is Overflowing with Gratitude

As I look back on my personal and professional journey, I feel so blessed to have met so many amazing and incredible people—people like you—who have shaped my life. Each year and each interaction have made an impact on my life, and I’ve encountered all kinds of personalities along the way—learning something valuable from each of them. I truly appreciate and value those lessons, and I have no regrets.

This month is extra special—I celebrated a key milestone: three years at Pure Storage.

I still love what I do, what I’m best at, and what I’ve always yearned for. I feel fortunate to work alongside the most fun-loving and talented Pure Global Information Security (GISO) Team. Sure, there have been challenges—every company has them—but what stands out to me is the people and the experiences that have made this journey so incredible.

And as I reflect, I’m reminded of what truly matters. My cup is overflowing with gratitude—gratitude for family and friends who stand by me in tough times, for a professional life that continues to inspire and energize me, and for a team that proves every day how teamwork makes the dream work.

But most importantly, I’ve realized the power of tuning out the noise and focusing on what really counts. Thankfully, for my sanity, I’ve found my Gratitude Noise-Cancelling Headphones—bringing clarity and balance back into my life.

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s celebrate the small wins, embrace the journey, and support one another to thrive—not just survive.

Let’s share this message—

Put on our Gratitude Noise-Cancelling Headphones and deflate the stress, inflate the joy!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!