The Man Who Risked It All by Laurent Gounelle Read Free Book Online

the most advantageous. Now imagine the same situation involving someone who doesn’t know how to do any of that. It’s probable that the only choice his brain has is to insult his critic or passively accept the criticism, no matter how unjustified it may be. Either way, that will be his best bet .”
    “You’re saying I’m a bit limited, is that it?”
    “Let’s say that when things don’t go your way, then yes, you don’t have many choices available, and you tend to put yourself in the position of the victim.”
    “Supposing that’s true, what are the advantages I get from it?”
    “From what I discovered yesterday, you like to be seen as someone who puts himself out for others, and you hope that in return you will be valued for your so-called sacrifices. And then you also enjoy being pitied and arousing people’s sympathy. Between you and me, that’s a load of bull. All the research shows that we are attracted to those who take responsibility for their choices and live with the consequences. In the end, you’re the only one who’s moved by your lamentations.”
    “Even so, objectively—really objectively—I think I’ve had less luck than others in life so far, beginning with my social background. I’m sorry, but it’s much easier to be happy when you’re born into a wealthy family where you’ve gotten all you want.”
    “Stop! That’s bullshit, all that.”
    “Absolutely not. Any sociologist will tell you that statistically, children from privileged social backgrounds are far more likely to go to college than children from underprivileged backgrounds and therefore to have access to better jobs.”
    “But that’s got nothing to do with happiness! Besides, don’t forget you are an executive. Unfairness derives from the love and education a child receives from its parents; this, indeed, contributes to future happiness. In that regard, I agree, there are underprivileged people. But it’s unconnected to social background. Being rich doesn’t mean you know how to give love to your children, or the right dose of authority to bring them up successfully. Look around you.”
    “Okay. But you can’t say I was lucky from that point of view either. I didn’t even have a father!”
    “Yes, but now you are an adult, and you can learn to move beyond moaning and crying over your fate.”
    The Mercedes turned onto the Boulevard Malesherbes and drove toward Rue des Batignolles. I was very annoyed by what he had said.
    “Alan …”
    “What?” I snapped.
    “Alan, there is no such thing as a happy victim. Do you hear? They don’t exist.”
    He fell silent for a few seconds, as if to allow his words to sink in. I felt his phrase go like a knife to my heart, and now his silence was pushing the blade deeper into the wound.
    “Right. So what do you do to stop yourself from slipping into the role of the victim? Because if, on top of everything else, it’s unconscious, I don’t see how I’m going to extricate myself.”
    “In my opinion, the best way is to learn to do something else. Again, if pretending to be the victim is your best bet, it’s clearly because your brain doesn’t have many other possibilities. Therefore, you must develop some. You know, nature abhors a vacuum. So if you simply try to suppress the victim role and don’t know how to do anything else in its place, it won’t work. You’ll resist the change. The best thing is to discover that you can do something different. Then, I’m confident, your brain will quickly choose the new option of its own accord, if it brings you more advantages.”
    “And what will this new option be?”
    “Well, I’m going to teach you to get what you want on a daily basis. If you succeed, you won’t need to pretend to be the victim. Listen, I know it was only an anecdote, but you staggered me yesterday when you told me your lack of luck pursued you even in an insignificant act of everyday life like buying bread at the baker’s. You said you regularly