Where does kindness extend? Presumably, it has no outer edge, hence ‘Every man is my brother; every woman is my sister.’

One of the exercises your mentor had you do last week was step away from your office chair and regard it from a third party perspective, as though you were still sitting in it. She asked you to address yourself. Remember the feeling when you had to praise that other you: remember the sadness, and remember the gratitude and respect you had for him. Where does that go when you resume the seat? Why treat others with kindness – or at least aim to – when you treat yourself so harshly?

You made the decision to take on the role of manager knowing it would benefit the team but harm you. The mentor asked you, ‘Why did you do that?’ What was your response? Nothing too precise; nothing came easily to mind. You had become the manager because it seemed right at the time. But now you wonder. Is it a sound principle to ‘take a bullet for the team’? Why you?