Is a ‘sustainable’ approach to work a recipe for greatness or a fool’s errand?
When I was but
a young boy, my dear old mother was counselling me on the downsides of seeking
revenge against another boy who was mean to me on the playground. She said
“Draw from your past, don’t let your past draw from you!” At 9 years old, it
was hard to not exact a direct toll on the offending youth for the hurtful
mockery at my expense. However, upon his next try, I was prepared and became
the implicit victor, more by what I didn’t say and do then by my own prepared
insults; designed to garner a laugh from an eager audience. Needless to say,
that boy never bothered me again.
Whilst the
story grew grey and dull with age, my mother’s counsel did not. It is still as
enlightened and relevant now as it was back then! So why as adults, do we have
such a problem with doing the right thing? Will our value consciousness leave our family and us destitute or will it
propel us to the stars?
It is a worthy
question to ponder as life is destined to present situations that will require
us to have a position on ‘doing the right thing’ even if it is not in our best
short-term interest. The real question is; is it worth it when all is said and
done?
Here are some
points to consider when your heart says “STOP!” and your head then wants to
override your heart for ‘worldly reasons’.
A Road Less Travelled. Whilst others may shy away from a less travelled
path, this does not mean you won’t find your way on its unbeaten trail. Even if
you “look bad”, remember its not the journey of others to understand yours!
Fortitude and venerable intentions will never be stained by gossip and
innuendo.
Believe in what you understand, not what you see. Things are not always as they seem.
Trust is a great thing, but when you need to verify, do so as trust will not
suffice in the absence of verification. You may reveal those whom seek to
deceive you and more importantly, you will reveal the truth. Don’t let the egos
of others stop you from understanding. It’s a poor excuse in the face of
critical errors in judgement.
Value the long-term outlook. When you consider it, new
possibilities will always arise and present a different picture in the present
and shorter term.
Don’t let your past become your future. This is the point my dear old mother
made, which is still very relevant today. You may not always be able to remedy
the wrongs of others directed against you. In accepting your limitations, you
free yourself of the burden others impose by their actions, thus clearing your
mind to see a better future for you!
Positivity. If your consciousness delivers positivity as a
core trait, remember to structure it into a value-creating proposition by
turning an objectionable course of action into a positive approach achieving
(where possible) the same if not better outcome sought by the initial proposer.
Emotion is one of our greatest strengths and weaknesses.
Remember to structure it, own it and deliver its overriding outcomes in
positives. Negativity can creep like a cancer into the hearts and minds of good
people corrupting their longer-term outlook.
Sustainability is about ability to achieve/perform over the longer
term rather then ‘quick wins that set a thousand fires’. In accepting only
necessary short-term pain by ‘fire starters’, you clear your consciousness of
burden that prevents you from seeing a longer-term gain and outlook. A sustainable
approach of outward value deliverance strengthens the unit/team versus the
inward approach that selfishly garners value for one’s self at the expense of
others and the longer-term outlook.
We may not be
perfect as a people, but as individuals we can improve in a continuous cycle
that adds value to our own consciousness as much as it does to our society and
the prospects for our children’s children. When it comes time for them to step
up and be counted by the universe during the course of their lives, why not
leave a slightly better world for them as a gift that they will know as the
present! Let them celebrate our example and deliver a better world in the
ultimate cycle of sustainable and contentious improvement, where tomorrow will
always welcome today!
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