Avoiding the unavoidable

During my MBA days I came across many interesting stories. Some of them had a long lasting impression on my mind. One of such stories talks how we try to avoid the unavoidable. I don't remember the book and the author. I think the author will love the fact that I remember her/his story.

Once a man was searching something on a street just below the streetlight. A passerby stopped and asked what was it. It was the key of his room. With the intention to help the passerby asked where exactly he lost it. The answer was surprising. The man had lost his key in the nearby bush. Then why was he searching it on the street. The man answered: "there is darkness in the bush, so I am searching it under the streetlight".

The author had written in the story to highlight the under-performance of the economists and the finance community. Many times the economists and policy makers avoid going into difficult areas (darkness) and keep their focus on already known areas despite knowing the fact that they have to venture into the darker sides to find out a solution.

The story precisely talks how we as individuals and collectively are functioning. If we find darkness in certain areas we just try to avoid it and focus on areas where there is light. Following the easier way might not help. In life many times we try to please ourselves by finding out logic that are illogical. Instead of venturing into the darker parts we love to forcibly accept the unacceptable facts. If we don't like something we keep on telling ourselves- "this how the world is". We forget that accepting fact is different than not even trying to find out to do something you like. And many times simply carrying a portable light to the dark area may solve the problem rather than searching a solution where there is light.

The financial crises we face proves that the author of the story was correct about the economists and finance community. An introspection may help us to realize that the story is equally acceptable to our lives as well.