Presidents are popular people to find quotes from, in part, because they say so much! When I read this quotation recently, I found it thought provoking. While you could think about it in the political realm, especially with elections coming up, that isn’t where my questions, actions, and thoughts will go.
Feel free, as always, to think about application in whatever ways best help you.
“Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil; our great hope lies in developing what is good.”
— Calvin Coolidge, U. S. President
Questions to Ponder
Think about a situation you face today, and ask these questions . . .
– What negative (evil) do I see in the situation?
– What positive (good) do I see in the situation?
– Where am I focusing my attention and action?
Action Steps
1. Spend time today developing what is good in your world.
2. Advance the positive.
3. Focus on hope.
My Thoughts
President Coolidge outlines a fundamental choice, and stakes his claim as to which is the more effective world view. I suppose I share the quotation and write about it largely because I agree with his world view. As you face problems and obstacles, you always have this fundamental choice: focus on the positive or good, or put your focus elsewhere.
Focusing towards the positive doesn’t mean to ignore or deny the the obstacles, problems, challenges, or evil; it simply means taking a practical, proactive approach towards reaching your desired goals. As a leader, we must realize the implication of our choice, and we must, if we want greater results, influence the choice (if not the world view) of our team.
Take today’s action steps and put them somewhere you can see them often – and then take those steps.
t’s easier to tear something down that to build something up. What can you create out of the good… what can you build on? It’s a great place to start and a great mindset to encourage in those you are leading.