Tom glanced at his watch, realizing he was already late for his crucial morning meeting. As he rushed out of the café, another person collided with him, causing cold coffee to spill all over his expensive Armani suit.
Scenario 1: Tom Reacts Angrily
“Watch where you’re going!” Tom exploded, his face turning red with fury. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? This is an Armani suit, you idiot!” He continued to hurl curse words at the person, his voice growing louder with each word. Bystanders turned their heads, but Tom didn’t care. He was livid.
The person who collided with Tom, visibly taken aback, stammered an apology, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you.”
“Sorry isn’t going to fix my suit or my day!” Tom spat, storming off to his meeting, still fuming.
When he arrived, he was met with the shocked face of the person from the café.
“You?” Tom blurted out.
“Yes, I’m Alex,” the person said, extending a hand hesitantly. “I believe we were supposed to meet today.”
The tension in the room was palpable. Despite his best efforts to salvage the situation, Tom’s outburst had already set a negative tone. The meeting proceeded awkwardly, and Tom could tell Alex was still shaken by their earlier encounter. Eventually, Alex declined the multi-million dollar deal, citing concerns about professionalism and temperament.
Scenario 2: Tom Delays His Response
Tom felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he took a deep breath and counted to ten. Instead of reacting immediately, he paused, considering the broader consequences of his actions. He looked at the person who collided with him, who was already stammering an apology.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there!” the person said, looking genuinely remorseful.
Tom sighed, forcing a smile. “It’s okay. Accidents happen. Just… try to be more careful next time.”
The person nodded gratefully. “Thank you for understanding.”
Tom hurried to his meeting, hoping the coffee stains wouldn’t be too noticeable. As he walked into the conference room, he was surprised to see the same person from the café standing there.
“You?” Tom said, trying to mask his surprise.
“Yes, I’m Alex,” the person replied, extending a hand. “I believe we were supposed to meet today.”
Tom shook Alex’s hand, both of them smiling awkwardly. Despite the initial mishap, Tom’s composed reaction had left a positive impression. The meeting proceeded smoothly, and they discussed the details of the deal with mutual respect. By the end, Alex felt confident in Tom’s ability to handle stressful situations with grace and decided to move forward with the multi-million dollar deal.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — -
Now, it’s up to you, the reader, to decide which scenario leads to the best outcome.
In the first scenario, Tom’s immediate anger costs him a significant business opportunity and tarnishes his professional reputation.
In the second scenario, Tom’s measured response not only salvages the situation but also secures a valuable deal.
Which approach do you think is the best option?
In the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagwan Shri Krishna in Chapter 2, Verse 62–63, warns of anger’s destructive power.
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम: |
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || 63||
From anger delusion occurs, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, the spiritual intellect gets destroyed, and when spiritual intelligence is lost, one perishes.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna explains that dwelling on sense objects breeds attachment, which fuels desires. When desires are unmet, anger erupts, clouding judgment and memory. This impairs the intellect, leading to ruin.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna emphasizes that anger destroys the ability to distinguish right from wrong, promoting impulsive actions and a loss of control. It disrupts mental clarity, harming both the individual and their surroundings.
By controlling desires and maintaining composure, one can escape anger’s grip and cultivate a life of wisdom and harmony.
Delay is the response.
