Responsibility vs. Reassurance

Hi there! It’s mid-December, I was in Pakistan last week, as I mentioned in my newsletter last week, and it got me thinking about the difference between responsibility and reassurance. Let’s talk about that, but first..

Weekly Inventory Check

As we get closer to the end of 2023 each week, it’s a chance to look back on what you’ve accomplished throughout the year. Consider why you’ve achieved what you have. Think of it like a repeating cycle of feedback. I might repeat it a lot, but the key in life is having this feedback loop. It guides you on where you want to go.

Responsibility vs. Reassurance

In the midst of my travels in Pakistan and discussions back home in the Netherlands, a recurring theme has been the balance between responsibility and reassurance. Many of us grapple with the idea that taking responsibility might simply be a form of reassuring ourselves that we’ve fulfilled our duties, allowing us to wash our hands of further involvement. Western societies often advocate for a live-and-let-live approach, encouraging acceptance and understanding of everyone’s unique journey.

While I appreciate this sentiment, I worry that it stays at a superficial level. Granting everyone leeway based on the uniqueness of their journey can erode the foundations of a society. A society, after all, is a collective agreement to adhere to certain rules to maintain order and prevent internal conflicts. The reluctance to engage in deeper conversations, fearing discomfort, leads to the gradual formation of gaps and air bubbles within the fabric of society, which may eventually rupture the concept of community.

Consider the recent election in the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders’ far-right party secured the most seats in parliament. A significant number of eligible voters didn’t participate, while others chose the party as the ‘lesser evil’ without investing in grassroots efforts to improve existing options. This pattern of opting for the perceived ‘better’ choice rather than actively working to better available choices is a symptom of a deeper issue.

Individuality and freedom of speech and expression are essential, but they come with consequences that extend beyond individual bubbles. Every action affects others, necessitating compromises and societal rules. While these rules may need updates, collective responsibility is crucial. The current trend of focusing on personal justifications without actively taking responsibility raises concerns about the sustainability of our societal fabric.

In conclusion, the urge to reassure ourselves of making the ‘right’ decision without actively contributing to positive change might be more prevalent than we realize. It’s time to move beyond mere reassurance and embrace responsibility to ensure a more conscientious and sustainable future.

Want More?

·  This article talks about the distinction between “being responsible to others” and “being responsible for others” using everyday examples from our lives.

·  This article explains why people constantly seek reassurance and suggests how they can break the habit and stop relying on others for constant validation.

·  This article emphasizes the importance of making responsible decisions as a crucial life skill. To do this, stay well-informed by gathering all the facts, be decisive to avoid wishful thinking, and take a stand for your beliefs, even if others disagree.

Reel of the Week

Check out our reel of the week. This must have come across your mind that usually the concept of Individuality usually presides in the West culture, whereas on the Eastern side of the globe they are more inclined towards collectivism. Find out more below.

Instagram post by @thisisvasl

The Weekly Vasl Podcast

Our Episode on Lebanese Heart, Emirati Spirit, Canadian Dreams is out now! You can watch it below! This one featured Georges Habib, focusing on Georges’ expat journey, from navigating Beirut streets to being an Emirati and finally pursuing his Canadian dream. Georges, a multicultural podcaster based in Montreal, explores various topics. When addressing Lebanon, he vividly outlines the nostalgic memories followed by challenges, including recurrent Israeli strikes and economic turbulence, pointing to a worsening situation. Shifting to Dubai, Georges delves into its transformation from a desert to a business hub seamlessly blending work and social opportunities. He highlights the clash between Western individualism and Eastern collectivism, comparing their merits and drawbacks. The podcast also examines subtleties like distrust in Eastern bazaars, mostly due to rampant industrial shift from agrarian society, along with challenges faced by those navigating Western life without proper parental guidance again due to Individualism approach catering more to personal needs rather than prioritizing familial culture.

We also are on Spotify, Apple, Google, and wherever you listen!

Meetup

The upcoming meetup will be a quick roundtable preview where we’ll discuss the format in a fast-paced manner. We aim to demonstrate how a roundtable operates through an in-person example and highlight its benefits. I encourage anyone interested to join us; the link will be live soon. Additionally, you can become part of this meetup group to access the event online.

During the preview, we’ll explore the roundtable concept by inviting everyone to share an obstacle they’re facing. Together, we’ll brainstorm and work through potential solutions. This sneak peek will give you a glimpse of what to expect at the actual roundtable event.

The Round Table

I am excited to introduce the Round Table at Vasl.

Here, you have the opportunity to join a group for the upcoming quarter. Together, we will determine your quarterly goals and form a cohesive group centered around shared themes. You will get a chance to learn about 12 agile principals in 12 weeks that will help you get closer to reaching your goals. While I aim for a certain level of similarity to facilitate cohesive discussions, I also appreciate the value of diverse experiences. The goal is to create a supportive environment where learning from varied perspectives is encouraged.

We are opening eight seats for this group where I will act as the facilitator. Throughout the journey, you’ll be backed by your fellow peers, have access to shared resources and as I tend to introduce shared Notion Space where we can all collaborate and exchange resources. If this opportunity resonates with you, you can sign up now using the following the link.

Please note that this commitment is non-binding initially. You will first fill out a form, and we will assess if we are a match. Once we think you are a match, you will be officially sent an invitation.

However, I must stress that there are limited seats available—only six to eight seats. So act quick to secure a spot in this cohort, as we wouldn’t want you to miss out on this opportunity. The upcoming cohort will commence at the beginning of the year, with the following cohort scheduled for March 2024.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Round Table and witnessing the positive impact it will have on your personal and professional growth.

Thoughts to Leave You With

I’ve been discussing things here, how we function as a community, how my friends and I work, and why we tend to stay on the surface without going deeper. It’s because we avoid feeling responsible. We shy away from taking action for things we should be responsible for. We just prefer the comfort of not dealing with it and staying numb. It’s like using morphine for the soul, you know? But it’s important to know that we’re doing this by choice. Once we realize we have a say in it, we can choose differently. So, I’m suggesting for 2024, let’s make a different choice.