Bring Light Not Heat

 

Recently I was listening to my favorite podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, and they were discussing the concept of brining light not heat to a difficult situation.  It is really an incredible analogy.  In situations where you need to confront someone or want to make a point, bringing the heat does not work.  If you lead with heat, you will be met with heat.  We really want to lead with light.  We want the other person to see our position not hear our anger.  Heat ramps up emotion.  Light brings clarity. 

Unfortunately, heat makes good news.  Our society feeds off conflict and contentiousness, but heat breeds mistrust.  Volume, anger, cursing, and finger pointing are all versions of heat.  They serve little more than to escalate a situation.  Calm, steady tones, and sincerity are forms of light.  They may not lead to agreement, but they can lead to understanding and acceptance.  Next time you are faced with a difficult conversation, lead with light!  Leave the heat at home.

*Portions of this MMM were taken from an episode of At The Table podcast with Patrick Lencioni.  For those that are interested it is Episode 100 – Go Ahead, Enter the Danger.

Love & Forgiveness

 

More on this topic from last week which highlighted the following Martin Luther King Jr., quote.

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

Never mind your enemies, what about your spouse, your kids, your employees?  We humans are flawed individuals.  We need forgiveness.  If you expect to love only those who are perfect or worthy you will be sorely disappointed.  Not one of us is perfect.  That adjective can only be used in reference to Jesus Christ.  Hence the concept of forgiveness.  Much like Jesus bestows grace upon us we must forgive in order to love.  Dr. King states it clearly, if one cannot forgive, one cannot love.  Relationships require forgiveness.  We are broken.  We need people to love us in our brokenness. 

Love requires forgiveness.  Forgiveness enables love.

Love & Forgiveness

As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, give some thought to Dr. King’s quote:

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

Consider the relationship between love and forgiveness. 

FEAR

 Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.

’22 and You

 

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first Monday of 2022. Are you excited for the new year? I like this time of the year, not necessarily for making resolutions, but for refocusing. It is a great time to assess where you are professionally and personally and, to set new goals accordingly (call them resolutions if you like).

What will you change, accomplish or improve in 2022? Nothing changes if nothing changes, and it all starts with a plan. Start by choosing one or two things, not thirteen or thirty. Make them realistic, reasonable and significant. Focus on them and plan on how to accomplish them. Everyone sets goals and plans differently, but those with no plan at all never seem to change or accomplish anything.

What will you do for you in 2022?