Logical lekhika

  There are a few things I often hear myself saying: “I like certain things in a particular way.” “I like to follow my morning schedule.” So yes, some things I prefer being monotonous. At the same time, I find myself telling my gym trainer — give me a new exercise, this is boring. The same food every day feels comforting for a while, and then suddenly, boring. I wondered how, as humans, we are comfortable holding such opposite preferences — and how naturally both coexist within us. Preferences also change from person to person. And when opposites meet on the same topic, differences in liking and opinion are inevitable. Sometimes that leads to conflict. There may be no absolute right or wrong here — or perhaps there is, depending on whether monotony or variety dominates a particular situation. But this definitely becomes a fertile ground for disputes in relationships, especially when there is a lack of mutual respect.

Once again, I find myself writing about toxic characters in the professional environment. They come in many shades, with many forms of toxic behaviour. One trait I’ve been observing more closely of late is lying — and not the occasional, defensive lie, but habitual, blatant lying of the highest order. Some of these people have the audacity to lie straight to your face. Earlier, every such interaction would leave me irritated and agitated. Even now, I do feel irate — but over the last couple of months, I’ve tried something different. Instead of reacting immediately, I allow them space to explain themselves again and again. What usually follows is predictable: more lies, layered carefully to cover earlier ones. Ironically, this seems to irritate them far more than it irritates me. When I say I want to remain polite and calm, I realise how difficult it actually is — every single time. Calmness here is not natural; it is practiced. As an afterthought, I try to see this diffe...

I spoke of Virakti yesterday,  https://logicallekh.blogspot.com/2026/01/virakti-in-professional-life.html  but today reminded me how much practice still lies ahead.  In a toxic work culture, detachment itself becomes tiring. “Toxic work culture” is one of the key themes I have been writing about lately. And every other day, my toxic colleagues give me enough masala to write more on this. What I often wonder is — how do people end up placing personal goals above organisational goals, all while appearing to work for the organisation? Some cases are explicit integrity issues. But many toxic people are subtler. They are more like an operational human error risk — a risk that probably doesn’t feature in any theory book yet. Such people weaken organisations quietly. They erode ethics and hollow systems from within, not in one dramatic act, but through daily behaviour. This happens in many ways: New joinees get moulded under their guidance, and their early career years ...

Sometimes, simple things make everything feel right. “Keep it simple” is such an overused phrase, yet it fits almost every aspect of life — food, habits, thoughts, relationships, and even the way we find joy. If I were to rate myself on simplicity, I’d say I’m a mixed lot — but tilted more towards being simple than otherwise. So what triggered this thought today? I was sitting in the balcony, watching the mountains, with a cup of coffee. After that, just cold milk, cornflakes, and honey. Two very basic things — nothing fancy — yet they felt surprisingly good. Maybe it’s personal preference, but I liked it. The calmness of the moment. Around me, there were honking vehicles, loudspeaker songs, city noise. And yet, in the middle of all that, I could hear birds chirping. That contrast stayed with me. Just sitting there, doing nothing — in that noisy calmness — felt simple, peaceful, and strangely fulfilling. And I realised… sometimes, that’s more than enough.

If i  flip the question — how easy is it to get anxious or agitated? That answer comes quickly. It doesn’t take big incidents. Even the smallest things can trigger unease, irritation, or restlessness. Over the last few months — more so in the last one — I’ve been making a conscious effort to stay calm, regardless of the situation placed in front of me. Sometimes I succeed, and those moments feel genuinely good. Sometimes I manage partially. And sometimes, I fail completely. What I’ve realised along the way is this: With people I love, it’s often just a clash of habits or temperaments — sometimes even unnecessary dragging of things. At work, however, it is frequently by design. And every time I get irate at work, I unknowingly make that design successful. It reassures the other side that their approach is working. At home, or with people close to me, I’ve learnt that trying to change them is futile. Changing myself — not becoming like them, but learning to let go — i...

I felt motivated to write about Virakti — a quiet form of detachment that doesn’t come from giving up, but from understanding. Ironically, my “irritating” colleagues and seniors have played a consistent role in this realisation. Their actions, words, and decisions have reinforced one simple truth: work is work, people are replaceable, and emotions are rarely part of the equation. Earlier, I struggled to let go. Thoughts lingered — what happened, why it happened, how it could have been better. I fought mentally, replayed conversations, and let my peace take a hit. What changed wasn’t the environment — it was the realisation. And I now believe that realisation is the first and most important step toward mental peace. I continue to give my 100% to my work and to the organisation. I continue to present facts, even when they don’t align with how my seniors see things. I believe it is my responsibility to put facts on the table — what follows is their decision. But something subtle ...

  Easier said than done, isn’t it? Each of us stands on both sides at different points in time. There are moments when we expect certain behavior from others — and moments when we fail to offer the same ourselves. When we are on the receiving end, the reaction is instant. We feel bad, angry, irate, upset. We replay the past, project the future, and link everything together — often depending on our mood more than the situation itself. But when we are the ones falling short, the realization rarely comes with the same clarity. What feels deeply hurtful when done to us somehow feels harmless when done by us. This pattern repeats more often than we would like to admit. And even when we try to stay sane while someone else reacts or responds in an unexpected way, holding on to that sanity is rare. We give up quickly. We react. I know this because I have been on both sides. What I am trying to practice now is simple — though far from easy. When I expect something and don’t re...

  Conceptually, I always believed meetings were meant to serve a clear purpose: To review or update seniors and teams on key progress and action items Periodic stock-taking of work and priorities Discussing critical open points within or across departments Walkthroughs of new analysis or important changes That’s the theory. In reality, meetings have evolved into something else altogether. What many meetings have now become: My problem is everyone’s problem — so let’s call a meeting Emails and documents won’t be read — either because they aren’t understood or simply because no one bothered Turn everything into a group activity so no single person is accountable Collective thinking, collective ownership — effectively, no ownership Anyone who asks a question or offers a suggestion risks becoming the owner of the problem The most prepared person often gets grilled — through planned agendas or surprise viva-style interrogations And then there’s the timing. Meetings can...