Chapter 13
First Kiss in the Conservatory
When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory. There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out. She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly. At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there. Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Script Detective: Identify Your Borrowed Behaviors
Think of a situation where you acted in a way that felt 'not quite you' - maybe at work, in a relationship, or with family. Write down what you did, then trace it back: whose behavior were you copying? What did you think that behavior would get you? Now imagine how you might handle the same situation using your authentic voice instead of a borrowed script.
Consider:
- •Consider whether the behavior actually achieved what you hoped it would
- •Think about whether the person you copied was genuinely successful or just appeared to be
- •Notice if you felt satisfied or empty after using the borrowed behavior
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone copied your behavior or communication style. How did it feel to see your patterns reflected back at you? What did this teach you about the behaviors you model for others?
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