Chapter 28
Morning after the ball, Anna telegrams Karenin that she is leaving ...
After the ball, early next morning, Anna Arkadyevna sent her husband a telegram that she was leaving Moscow the same day. “No, I must go, I must go”; she explained to her sister-in-law the change in her plans in a tone that suggested that she had to remember so many things that there was no enumerating them: “no, it had really better be today!” Stepan Arkadyevitch was not dining at home, but he promised to come and see his sister off at seven o’clock. Kitty, too, did not come, sending a note that she had a headache. Dolly and Anna…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Justification Stories
Think of a habit, relationship, or situation in your life that you know isn't working well but that you keep defending or explaining away. Write down the story you tell yourself about why this situation is actually okay, necessary, or even noble. Then rewrite that same situation from the perspective of someone who cares about you and wants you to succeed.
Consider:
- •Notice the difference between explaining and justifying
- •Pay attention to how you frame yourself as the victim or hero in your story
- •Consider whether your justifications are preventing you from making changes
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you recognized that a story you were telling yourself was keeping you stuck. What helped you see through your own justifications, and what did you do differently afterward?
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