The 4 Advantages of TAKING THE HIGH ROAD

Once again, our national headlines are focused on mass killings by a random person who is acting out hostile beliefs toward others.  This time the townspeople of Roseburg, Oregon, and those at the Umpqua Community College, where the shootings occurred, have decided they will not focus on the killer. They will not feed the gunman’s misplaced desire to be infamous by mentioning his name. They have decided to take the “High Road”.

The concept of the high road has come to me several times in my life. It usually occurs when someone has done something hurtful that has created suffering and confusion. Rather than dipping into the murky waters of the details, there is a decision to stay focused on our values and continue to move forward. It’s taking the high road, rather than getting involved in the messy details and gossip about what happening on the low road.

What are the hallmarks of taking the high road, and why is it a good choice?  There are a number of reasons why taking the high road is a wise idea that can benefit you no matter what the situation.

1. It gives you the big picture perspective:

 Imagine that you jump into a helicopter, fly straight up and look down on the scene below. In Oregon, you might see the full scale impact of the shooting with the media circling around, people struggling to make sense of their loss, while trying to carry on with their lives. From the higher perspective, you see that it is a point in time that is full of difficult emotion that’s leaving an indelible scar. From the higher perspective, you see the full long term impact of this tough event for the community and its implications for needed changes in our national policies.

A while back, a Board I am on took the high road by letting another organization take over a project we had worked on for years. They had more financial resources to see it to fruition. Because our goal was to see the project’s success so it could help people in need, it was the right thing to do, even though it was a hard decision.  Taking the high road is not always easy. You are doing it for a greater good.

2. It keeps you from getting involved in the drama:

You may have a vested interest in what is happening in the situation, but from a high road position, you become less attached to the outcome and more aware of the big picture learning that comes from the situation. When you take the high road position, you are less involved in the details and more interested in the long term gain that comes from that position.

In Oregon, the citizens hope to reduce the glamor and glory the media gives a perpetrator by not mentioning his name. This high road position is intended to help reverse the trend of killings on college campuses.  Let’s hope it makes a difference. 

The high road allows you to rise above the “he said, she said” gossip that abounds; that’s the stuff for tabloids. The high road is devoid of attention seeking or glory. It’s simply the right thing to do. There is integrity in this position.

3. It keeps you in balance:

The high road gives you a perspective that allows you to keep your emotions in check and your involvement in the details to a minimum. In many instances, it becomes the best way to keep yourself from doing or saying something that you will regret. In situations that are particularly difficult, the anger can consume you. The high road is a way to transcend that pain and find a perspective that allows for grace and personal dignity. For some it’s an act that becomes transcendent, and potentially life altering. 

If you think about a time that you have been hurt or disappointed in a relationship or situation, you may recognize the high road opportunity. You’re often still able to see it, whether you choose to take it or not. It means you get clear on why it is happening and dig deep to accept it without pushing or pulling for a different outcome. It’s the action that gives you peace in the midst of the storm and strengthens you from the inside out. You know when you do it. Imagine doing it in any situation that is currently bothering you and you will find immediate relief.

4. It makes you as a stronger leader:

The high road is often difficult and requires a very clear mental decision and the discipline to carry it forward. It marks you as willing to separate yourself from the crowd to use your wisdom to rise above a tough situation.  People who are able do this are showing their leadership capabilities.

When our Board decided to take the high road and give our project to another organization, it was painful for our board president. Knowing it was right thing to do was the only compensation for its difficulty. Now 7 years later, we have the chance to reclaim the project – what a perfect scenario! It is a great lesson on how the integrity of taking the high road works in the long run.  

The perspective of the high road is one of the lessons we learn from the Law of Rhythm. It teaches us that when you rise above any situation, you can find the wisdom perspective that allows you to make decisions that serve the greater good in the long run. If this is something you’d be interested in knowing more about for yourself, let me know. I’m doing a class on it now. Contact me through a message here or at my email [email protected].