The Box

  A box defined by Google is defined as a container with a flat base and sides, typically square or rectangular and having a lid. When an object is placed inside the box, it is hidden from reality. Those outside the box struggle to gain insight as to what is hidden inside. The object hidden inside also struggles to gain true insight as to what is on the exterior. In the book, “Leadership and Self-Deception,” we learn that we as people often times place ourselves in a box, figuratively speaking and lose sight of the people around us, of reality. In the process of losing sight of reality we often times find ourselves behaving different than under normal circumstances. Even our perception of people changes to the point that we see them as objects, merely as tools we can use to gain our personal goals.

            Throughout life we often find ourselves struggling, falling into the box and struggling to free ourselves of the boxes grasps. Finding ourselves entrapped in the box, we begin to deceive ourselves. Our perception of reality is altered to the point where we don’t truly see who we or others are. That loss of reality imposes walls that impede our progression as individuals, groups, and families. In that state of darkness, in the box we struggle to work in groups, to cooperate with other people and to succeed collectively. Our individual success is often times gauged and developed on the collective success of a team and unit.

            Personal experience of reading the book only for a several days has already proven that the box analogy and method has made a dramatic difference on how I view those around me. After looking back upon my life, I have easily noticed that when I see myself living in the box towards specific people, that their behavior towards me simply reflected my attitude towards them. When truly stepping outside of the box, you see people as people instead of objects and you see people as people. After seeing them as people, you begin treating them as people which cause them to treat you as a person in return. When you see them as objects, you treat them as objects, which cause them to treat you as an object in return.

             The analogy of the box is a great tool. It greatly increases our possibilities to discover ourselves when we are entrapped in the box and how to successfully leave because our ability to work with others and progress greatly increases when we see the world and those around us outside of the box.