Pragmatism & Positivity – worth pursuing

At this time of Spring, the annual renewal of life that has always been of special significance to people of many religions and philosophies, we’re seeing (hopefully) a concurrent rebirth from a terrible scourge that has dramatically impacted our lives and our economy. I’d like to suggest that we use this monumental moment in time as inspiration to resolve to open ourselves up to positive and pragmatic possibilities for our work, and for our own lives.

Anybody who knows me is likely aware that I’m on a continual quest to find compelling, thought-provoking (and workable) ideas and concepts that can be absorbed and adapted to help our businesses (or our organizations, colleagues, customers, loved ones, humanity) become more successful. Best Practices that have proven to deliver higher quality, greater efficiency and superior service - and on a personal level to help us make our way more happily, more positively in the world as human beings. Call it positive pragmatism if you will (apologies to Morton White, who used this term in 1969 in an essay on the works of Charles Peirce and William James, but not in the same vein as I am today. Here’s a link to his piece in The New York Review which I Googled AFTER I started writing this btw…)

“Opting In” to Positivity

I’m continually awed by those who find simple, succinct meaning in words, actions & practices and ‘dare to share’ their grounded yet ground-breaking discoveries with others. Kerry Wekelo, writer and COO of the award-winning company Actualize Consulting is one. Following her brief presentation on the topic during a recent treasury symposium I was introduced to her book focused on Gratitude (and how to ‘infuse’ it practically and regularly in your life and to enrich it as and your organization.) There’s no ‘high-falutin’ stuff here, just very sensible and workable ideas based on experience and scholarly research and, exploring simply and succinctly, ‘what works’. Some great ideas and approaches are explained in Wekelo’s book. They will open tremendous possibilities in many hearts and minds – that is if those who own those hearts/minds are open to them – and offer potentially huge personal and organizational growth opportunities for individuals and entities in the bargain.

I’ve always been curious about how positive messages, sensible recommendations or practical tools delivered via company or external seminars or development programs, training sessions, etc. really ‘land’ with some people vs. falling flat with others. While it’s true that some programs are better than others, and that everyone has their own viewpoints on things, there’s no doubt that while many participants in ‘motivational’ training or seminars/webinars and the like do so enthusiastically and often apply the lessons learned/shared by their instructors or co-participants in their daily lives, some don’t. Maybe most don’t, but I really hope the latter’s not true. This is where “It’s Up to You” comes in…

Having an open mind - the choice is Yours/Ours

Why wouldn’t you want positivity, growth, new ideas, great suggestions, targeted recommendations for improving, enriching your work, being more productive, and achieving more success in your life? Why would anybody pass up such gifts, especially if freely given to be taken – or left behind?

I was prepared to write a whole article on having an open mind – literally just after having a deep discussion on a major current and surprisingly controversial topic (Covid vaccination and prevention measures) with my Mom, who’s in her 80’s and has always sought understanding even if she (like many of us) has strong opinions on many things, formed over many decades since her birth during the Depression era. But I’m not going to talk any more about that subject, other than to say that while I recognize that ‘blurring’ in the news and social media between facts and opinion is rapidly increasing, I’m very cognizant of this trend no matter what its source. The massive expansion of social media and ‘targeted’ internet and broadcast channels and groups (with plenty of anger and vitriol added to their ‘secret sauce’) is usually aimed at only one thing – making money or increasing power for somebody, usually the purveyors at the top.

But I’m going to set all that aside. I choose truth and open-mindedness. I’m going to take the risk that the worst that could happen from this course of action and intention to learn and apply and share is that I will become a greater advocate for love and compassion and potentially help drive some pragmatic positivity in the world.

No fools here…thoughts on opening our minds

My “no foolin'” message for this April Fool’s Day (also, see Seth Godin’s post on the topic, very compelling in itself) is this. If you have an opportunity to learn, to take part in any educational exercise:

• Welcome new ideas, no matter the source of the knowledge. As long as the approach of the source seems reasonable and aiming to create collaboration, coherence, communication, growth, a better organization, a ‘happier you’, check it out
• Participate. Take in what you read and hear and see and then consider it objectively, looking at the big picture and the little one with an open mind – considering how the specific details impact or move you based on your beliefs and life knowledge and experiences
• Then, Apply the program’s message/recommendations/tools, or adapt them to your own perspectives if it makes sense and if it doesn’t stand the test of reasonability, call it out for what it is, or let it go, your choice
• If something inspires you, share your inspiration with others.

Sharing ourselves is what drives everything positive and growing in this world. You know, pain and anger and vitriol won’t add value to your organization, and they certainly won’t enrich your life – definitely not beyond a few moments of shared or displaced negativity – and I doubt you or anyone else will find that truly invigorating. I’m not saying “ignore your feelings” or “hold your opinions to yourself”. Instead, I am saying we need to look inside for why we’re not open to certain things, creative concepts, productive new ideas or potentially positive change in our work or personal lives.

I’d venture to say that usually, the source of much of our personal negativity is in our minds, what we choose to let in them, not really what’s in our hearts. Because if we opened our hearts to loving ourselves and others, to trying to see other points of view, to creating understanding, to seeking growth, to exploring new ideas, to finding the truth, our minds – and a more positive, yet still pragmatic and diverse world - would surely follow. No foolin!