LeoChat Series – Part 39: The Power of Thankful Stewardship in Overcoming Setbacks with Timothy E. Sander

Jenny Guan: “What do setbacks cause people to fall into?”

Mr. Sander: “Setbacks cause people to fall into self-doubt and despair. Their focus on failure may become so narrow that they cannot see the full context of their experience and all they can be thankful for, including the failure itself. A failure means we were entrusted to do something, or strived to achieve something. In either case, we were fortunate to have had the opportunity. Not everyone receives that opportunity. We can be thankful for all the unique opportunities we receive. And failure does not end our ability to receive more opportunities in the future, even if they may mean that those opportunities may look different than we previously expected. We can still lead ourselves into the future with excitement and curiosity. Approaching failure with thanksgiving breeds confidence because we begin to look at our failures as experiences that will help us learn and grow.”

Jenny Guan: “Why is it adviseable not to rely on the approval of others for self-worth?”

Mr. Sander: “I believe growth will not take place without failures. People often become overly concerned about how their failures look to others. Depending too much on others for our own self-worth gives others an unhealthy level of control over our emotional well being. Instead, we should strive to become stewards of our own lives by being primarily accountable to God and ourselves.”

Jenny Guan: “Why is it important to reflect on thankfulness during a setback?”

Mr. Sander: “A setback may arise from a failure to live up to our own standards or morale values. It is important to overcome self-doubt to foster resilience and renew our ability to move forward confidently. We can do so by giving thanks for our standards and the people from whom we learned them. Individuals who set high standards should naturally expect more setbacks. Individuals who never experience failure should question whether their standards are too low.

Failures can also set people on a new path toward passionately striving to uphold their values or standards in the future. Often a failure can spark a new mindset or elevate awareness.

Also, people need others who understand how they feel. When we fail, we acquire a unique experience that can help us encourage others who may go through similarly difficult experiences. Our failures are often the experiences that make us the most relatable and helps us steward others through challenging circumstances.

The power of Thankful Stewardship for overcoming setbacks is profound. By reframing failures as opportunities for growth, and by cultivating gratitude for the lessons learned, individuals can navigate challenges with resilience and purpose. Setbacks are not roadblocks but rather stepping stones for personal and spiritual development. Embrace them with thankfulness, for they hold the keys to unlocking your fullest potential.”

The views expressed by Tim Sander are his personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer.

The article was written by Timothy E. Sander, edited by Jenny Guan. Copyrights is reserved by Timothy E. Sander. If quoted, please indicate the source, Thank you.

Stay tuned for Part 40 of 'Leo's Fireside Chat on Servant Leadership.' To be continued.

#ServantLeadershipChat39.