Forgiveness is the most under-appreciated practice, so much so that most see it as weakness. To forgive is to give in, right? It means MY voice isn’t heard, my interests are being stomped on and I LOSE. Nobody likes losing, for sure, but what if hidden inside the act of forgiving is an unexpected WIN?

See, the act of forgiving frees the forgiver from being held hostage by grudges & regret. Grudges turn us into grumpy curmudgeons while regret is the wet cement we trudge through that eventually hardens into hopelessness. Then we’re stuck!

In business, our hearts & minds must be light on their feet, nimble and flexible, able to adjust, flex and adapt to whatever comes our way, expected or unexpected, good or bad. Bitterness, the opposite of forgiveness, drags us down with negative thoughts that prevent growth and forward motion.

But the hidden WIN that awaits the forgiver is VISION! Vision is blackened and utterly stifled when it’s bound by the chains of anger & even hatred, which lack of forgiveness inevitably foments. Some might say that anger motivates them, like fuel to a fire; but Business Beatitudes says it’s a very short-lived motivation. Building success on bitterness is a house built on sand; plus it’s exhausting and unsustainable.

BB suggests a little exercise. List 3 people you need to forgive, personal or business-related. Say “I forgive you.” OUT LOUD. Doesn’t need to said to them. It’s about YOU learning to forgive.

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Industrial Leadership: Setting a Higher Standard!

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Successful are the Calm – They Develop Enduring Strength

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So that’s the textbook definition of calmness, the state or condition of being calm. Calmness is more the absence of certain influences than it is the addition of them. But what about this: The absence of disturbances and agitation creates space or room for more productive input.

Therein lies the reason that the practice of calmness is a major player in the business leadership game. If all the negative, distracting and non-productive influences can be weeded out to make room for positive, calmly thought-out, decisive action then the decision-maker is much more likely to stick around. It’s the highly-charged emotional tornadoes created by those lacking calmness that sweep up everyone in their path, throwing them to the distant four corners never to be heard from again. It’s a recipe for disaster first of all, and for constant turnover, perpetual dissatisfaction and total confusion.

How does the business leader practice calmness personally AND develop a calm environment? Business Beatitudes has three simple suggestions:

1. Read daily inspiration, at least 6 minutes. Why 6? Five is too easy to blow off and 6 gets you closer to 10. The inspiration must be other-focused, not self-congratulatory or self-centered. Starting the day with self-centered thoughts breeds dissatisfaction with everyone & everything around you.
2. Smile at everyone you see before entering the work environment. Silly? BB’s say No. What one projects on the outside will transform what one thinks or feels on the inside. Wear a frown, inner agitation increases and you enter into your business arena like a walking embodiment of stress and aggravation. Breaking down that wall of discontent is then virtually impossible. Fear, loathing and fight or flight response takes over. So get over yourself and just smile.
3. Decide in advance how you plan to handle life’s daily aggravations. Take deep breaths, count to 10, pray, do push-ups or burpees…Whatever works! Just decide in advance and stick to it.

Enduring strength WILL prevail because a calm attitude makes space for reasonable thought and reflection. The tornadoes of emotion subside because there’s nothing to feed them.

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