As we face the COVID-19 pandemic by staying home, many of us are struggling to understand what’s happening in our communities, with our families, and to our businesses and customers. I felt this post / story that’s been viral on the internet since 2015 would add some value to our thoughts and the way we decide to react or respond in this incredibly difficult time.
The cockroach-theory for self-development.
At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady, She started screaming out of fear With a panic-stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.
Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but ...it landed on another lady in the Group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.
The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.
Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behavior?
If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos. It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.
I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that disturbs me, but it's my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me.
It's not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me. More than the problem, it's my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in my life.
Lessons learnt from the story:
I understood, I should not react in life. I should always respond.
The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.
Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of hands, to avoid cracks in relationship, to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry.
THE LAST WORD
12 months from now, what people will remember about you as leaders, business owners, customers or consultants is not how you reacted in this pandemic, but how you responded in this incredibly difficult time.
#iamnirmal #getinspired #management #leadership #developingleaders #Personaldevelopment #success #roadtosuccess #inspirational #life
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