Behaviour: A Choice, Not a Skill.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." – Victor E Frankl

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Dear Investors & Friends:

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Welcome to this edition of SundayReads.

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During a recent conversation with a client, he revealed a rather disheartening decision to terminate the employment of an individual he was once enthusiastic about. Not a month had passed and this employee showcased a disheartening disposition of disrespect and arrogance, particularly towards the female staff. This wasn't a mere lack of interpersonal skills, but rather a deliberate choice to exert dominance, breeding an environment of fear and discomfort among colleagues. His actions painfully showcased the blatant violation of the company’s core value of "respect" for every team member, leaving a bitter taste of disappointment and outrage. A Behaviour Choice.

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On another occasion, a catch-up with friends brought to the forefront the corroding fabric of personal relationships due to adverse behavioural choices. A friend divulged his agonizing decision to separate from his spouse, who continually shirked family responsibilities, displaying an aggressive resistance to sharing household duties. Her abrasive remarks and flaunting her family's wealth became a tool to evade participation in nurturing a healthy home environment. It was a piercing instance showcasing that the erosion of marital harmony wasn't due to a lack of capability, but an alarming choice to forsake responsibilities, imposing tremendous strain and emotional turmoil on the other family members who bear the brunt of this imbalance. A Behaviour Choice.

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Furthermore, a narrative from my family archives speaks volumes about the devastating impact of unbridled choices on financial stability. A distant cousin, hailing from a share-broking lineage, carries the misplaced conviction of being infallible in his trading decisions. Despite losing substantial amounts over three decades, his portfolio shows a stark contrast to the financial damages incurred. Ignoring the desperate pleas from his family, he continues to tread a path laden with financial quicksand, undermining the family’s financial security. His actions aren't a reflection of a deficit in market acumen, but a reckless pursuit of personal adrenaline rushes, holding his family's economic well-being at ransom. This not only erodes their financial foundation but leaves them grappling with anxiety and a looming uncertainty about their future. A Behaviour choice.

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These increasing number of unsettling anecdotes throw light on the pervasive and often heartbreaking truth that behaviour is not cultivated as a skill, but is a series of willful and conscious choices that individuals make, affecting not just their lives but causing deep pain and irreversible fractures in the lives of others.

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Thus, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where it becomes imperative to acknowledge that our behaviours are direct manifestations of the choices we make, rather than the skills we've nurtured over time. Whether it manifests as verbal aggression, relentless complaining, compulsive gambling or pronounced lethargy, these behaviours are conscious choices, defining our impact on the surrounding individuals.

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In conclusion, behaviours - stark or subtle - are choices within our control, influencing the lives around us profoundly. ?As we traverse across personal and professional relationships, let us strive to choose paths that foster empathy, understanding, and harmony, enabling us to cushion the blows that our choices can inflict on others.

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Until the next week and the next SundayReads, Ciao.

?Warm Regards

?Kavita Bothra

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Helping you think thoughts you may not have thought before.

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