The dichotomy of life's journeys

We grow up with different messages from our parents, schools, friends, and environment, and what we are taught often differs from what we see in life. When I was younger, the most well-known careers were doctors and lawyers; education was focused on learning facts, not how to think; computers were an optional subject at school; social media did not exist, and brand building was an exercise restricted to companies and not a buzzword for everyone.

The world has since changed as information has become more readily available at your fingertips. Yet misinformation has also grown, and it seems the more we know, the stronger the fault lines worldwide. The lines between people's perceptions of what is real seem blurred, and it's hard to separate fact from fiction. How do we pilot a world where things keep changing so dramatically?

There may not be one suitable approach or set path because life is not a straight journey. The right approach is the one we take, and in hindsight, if we realise that this did not work for us, we need to pivot and try a different way. Life is full of contrasts: rational versus emotional, cautious versus risk-taking, process-oriented versus entrepreneurial, easy-going versus headstrong, realistic versus hopeful, persevering versus pivoting. Are these different approaches or just curves along a path to your destination? Does the approach depend on the person, the circumstance, the timing, the environment or the other parties?

As we chart our courses, explore new paths, challenge our biases, and adapt to changing life stages and a rapidly evolving world, literature helps us through stories about the different approaches protagonists follow and the impact of these approaches on their lives. The stories below highlight the dichotomy of approaches, lifestyles, and environments and offer valuable insights into their effect on the protagonists and those around them.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

It is one of my favourite books by this author, who writes about life and love and whose stories are as relevant today as when she wrote them. This book examines whether sense or sensibility wins in the battle of love and concludes that anything in excess can jeopardise your dreams. If you are too sensible to show your emotions, your lack of passion has consequences. If you are too free with your feelings, some will take advantage of your openness. Eventually, life's caprices catch up with all of us, and there is no fixed recipe for getting what you desire.

Chocolat by Joan Harris

A decadent indulgence that explores the magic of chocolate, the deliciousness of authentic social connections and the power of living without forcing yourself to conform to external standards. The story follows a mother and daughter coming to a new town and starting a chocolatier business and the impact on the townspeople as they visit the store. We also see the effect on the town priest. Two viewpoints emerge in the course of this story, that of the chocolatier and the priest. Indulgence and Deprivation are at war. With a lead character who seems fearless but has her demons to deal with, this story examines the traumas that drive us and the different approaches we take to deal with them.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

The Booker prize-winning novel by Aravind Adiga talks about two Indias much before the famous Indian comedian caused outrage by talking about this phenomenon on foreign soil. The protagonist of this story, the white tiger, talks about the two Indias, an India of light and an India of darkness. This self-made social entrepreneur narrates his journey to the Chinese Premier, who is about to visit his city, Bangalore, in the form of notes. For those of us who have grown up in India, this is still a stark reminder of how the progress in the cities has further exacerbated the disparities between the two Indias. This story of social mobility is sobering as it examines one man's journey to make it out of the darkness into an India of light, his chosen route, which seemed for him the only way to progress and the toll that journey takes on everyone around him.