“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
Photo Courtesy of Andreas (Flickr)
I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration; I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.
If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am fascinated by human potential. I absolutely believe that if we see the best in others, we bring out the best in others – and in ourselves.
How great does it feel when someone believes in you – and genuinely means it – even after barely meeting you? While there are exceptions (I don’t advocate blind trust, for example) – seeing the good in someone can be one of the most powerful gifts in the world. Give it freely.
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Great post, Jenny!!
So very very true. The knowledge that other people believe in us is powerful, more powerful than our own passions and ambitions sometimes. And sometimes that belief can fuel our passions and ambitions to places we never imagined. It is the power of good that wins out. But only when it is sincere. Shallow and superficial flattery for one's own gain or purpose is blatantly transparent, does more harm than good.
You can't see it, but right now I'm giving you the old stink eye.
Not because your post fueled a deep hatred in me, but because this post gives me great pause. It makes me think…and right now, thinking makes my brain hurt. Thinking is hard!
Still, love the deep thoughts. Knucklebump to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, even though the knucklebump probably wasn't appropriate back then.
This is so true. We all have incredible potential to give a boost to others' self esteem, make their day better, make them more confident or happier, simply by seeing their inner potential. I myself can look back upon all the moments in which I lacked confidence, and just the thought that some people close to me believed in me deeply and felt I could succeed helped me get through that situation & become a better person.
But of course, if a person is all too egotistical, I don't think we should encourage them further. Sometimes people with egos need to be brought back to reality.
I completely agree — thank you so much for posting this quote
Thanks Kat! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post – have a great week
David – I'm just impressed that you commented during your Monday Night
Football date with Diesel!
Thinking IS hard – which is why pizza and a fireplace are much better
for a tired brain than deep thoughts like this one. So extra thanks
for stopping by!
Elisa – totally agree that sometimes having someone believe in us is
exactly the fuel and motivation we need to keep going, particularly
when things get tough and we're ready to quit or can't see a way
forward. And equally true that support should be genuine and come from
the heart – otherwise it's meaningless.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Akhila – great to hear from you! I hope all is well
. This quote
really struck me for exactly the reasons you outlined – when I looked
back on my personal experiences, I realized some of my most
transformative moments came from people believing in me and seeing my
potential.
I also love what you said about remembering how much postive thoughts
and reinforcement can make someone's day/week/year/life – so true!
Happy Holidays!
Yes – always look for the good in everything and everyone – Embellish the positive and diminish the negative. Once you start focusing on the negative and become pessimistic, life starts to really suck. We should all give each other the benefit of the doubt more often and trust in the fact that at our core, each of us is inherently good. Thanks for the reminder Jen!
In this times of mistrust and suspicions, it is never easy to allow ourselves to see the good in others. However, I believe that if we affect goodness, it shall be extended back unto us.
“we bring out the best in others – and in ourselves” — this is well said, Jenny
Are you familiar with Martin Buber, the Jewish philosopher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Buber)? The quote you provided and that statement you wrote echo the message of two of his seminal works, I and Thou (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-Thou) and The Way of Man (http://www.amazon.com/Way-Man-According-Teachin...). In both he advocates the importance of recognizing the positive and the humanity in one another; in doing so we hallow all our relationships and raise up ourselves.
Interesting reading, I'd recommend him.
The best is when somebody sees something in us that we didn't see in ourselves, and it takes our game to a new level.
Jenny this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this quote, I'm a quote freak and haven't stumbled across this one.
I have always found the best in others…largely, when no one else around me may understand why. It may not be the best (all the time) but it hasn't hurt me in the past and I continue to see the positive and help to uplift people. I would rather that than cynicism. Believing in someone is powerful stuff and I've believed in people I've just met and then people I've known my whole life. It's not tangible but it is real. Thanks for this.
Inspiring stuff from Goethe.
Didn't know much about him before.
What a lovely inspirational blog post.
A x
What a lovely inspirational blog post.
A x
Walter – Sorry for the delay in responding to your comment. Just wanted to
say thanks for stopping by, and that I absolutely agree! Sometimes seeing
good in others is challenging – but those are the times it is most
important, and like you said – leads to us getting that goodness in return.
If anything, we get some of that “goodness” just by being kind to others -
regardless of how they may respond. Happy New Year!
Thanks Royce! I hope you had a great Christmas, and have a very happy new
year! Looking forward to keeping in touch in 2010
J.D. – I couldn't agree more. Having someone see something in us that we
can't yet see for ourselves is such an incredible gift. Some of those
moments have been absolutely life-changing for me. Thanks so much for being
an amazing, insightful, faithful blog reader this year – I look forward to
keeping in touch in 2010. Happy New Year!
Thanks Antony – I really appreciate you stopping by!
Thanks aDeeb! I appreciate you taking time to stop by and comment – have a
great week!
Thanks Grace! I'm so glad you liked it. I replied to your comment on Ryan's
blog, but just wanted to say how much fun I have sharing back and forth
between our blogs.
I think what you described is an incredible quality – to see the best in
others even when those around you don't understand why. That is incredible,
and something I really admire. I love what you said about it being real,
even if not tangible. Sometimes those are the most valuable gifts of all.
Have a fantastic New Years – cheers to a great 2010!
Thanks Matt! SUCH a good reminder to give people the benefit of the doubt,
just like you said. And to recognize that most of us are all good people,
trying to do well for the world (and our friends and families). If we can
remember how much we all have in common, and how much we all have ups and
downs – then I think we can learn to live in a way that emphasizes the
positive and not the negative. I agree – living life as a pessimist is no
way to live at all! It's a recipe for misery, if you ask me. Have a great
week, and thanks again for stopping by!
Jenny,
I so enjoyed our chat so many weeks ago now. Congrats on your award winning blog too. I love Goethe . I referred to him in my new blog, (switched from blogger to wordpress to usher in the new year), so change is on my mind for the new year. ”We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden…” –Goethe
Here's to a powerful new year!
Lenora Boyle
Hi Lenora! Great to hear from you – I really enjoyed our chat too; between
you and Grace I feel lucky to be in on the Boyle secret! You are both
amazing, and I really look forward to keeping up with both of you this year.
I love the Goethe quote you shared, and can't wait to go check out your new
blog. Congrats on making the switch!
Thank you so much for this entry.
Jacki – you're welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed it
Nice to (virtually)
meet you!
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