Have you ever reflected on your behavior and wondered why you acted a certain way? Maybe you were unusually impatient with a colleague or missed an opportunity to stand out. It’s natural to think, “What’s wrong with me?” But what if the real answer isn’t about who you are, but rather where you are?
A fascinating article by "The Undercover Economist" in the Financial Times this month delves into the idea that your situation is often a more powerful predictor of behavior than your personality. This idea was illustrated through a thought-provoking study: participants were asked to walk across campus to deliver a presentation—some were told they were late, others had plenty of time. Along the way, they encountered someone clearly in need of help. Astonishingly, the deciding factor in whether they stopped to help wasn’t their personality traits like kindness or empathy. It was whether or not they were in a rush.
This insight can reshape how we think about behavior and self-improvement. Many of us blame ourselves when we fall short of our expectations: "Why wasn’t I more compassionate? Why can’t I be more disciplined?" “Why am I not succeeding in my job?” But what if it’s not entirely about personal flaws? What if the key lies in changing the situation instead of changing yourself?
Imagine you want to be more productive at work but your PS5 and TV are always in sight. Or you want to exercise more, but your gym is an inconvenient 30-minute drive. These aren’t failures of willpower or discipline—they’re situational barriers. By setting up a proper work environment or having a gym closer to home, you’re reshaping the environment to support your goals. The change is external, but the results can feel transformative.
The beauty of this perspective is that it invites grace and understanding. Instead of beating yourself up for not being “better,” you can focus on crafting a better environment. Let’s face it, it's often easier to tweak the situation than to overhaul your personality.
So, here’s your challenge for the week: Identify one behavior you want to improve and examine the situation around it. What small changes can you make to your environment to make the behavior more likely? You might be surprised by how big of a difference small shifts can make.
Remember, you’re not just the product of your personality—you’re the product of your surroundings, too. And the good news? Your surroundings are much easier to change.
Here’s to giving yourself grace and designing the life you want, one situation at a time.
Forward,
Brian