The resilience skill we need this July 4th

This weekend, the country I live in turns 250 years old.

That’s remarkable!

America is a very big place with a lot happening for good and ill. There are things I wish were different. There are places where I think we need to improve, grow, and make meaningful change. And there are also things that make me proud. Things worth celebrating. Things worth protecting. I've been thinking lately about how resilience requires us to hold both.

When I'm working with leaders, organizations, or even whole communities, one thing becomes clear very quickly: if we only look for problems, we eventually stop seeing anything else.

It's a little bit like being in a relationship where all you do is criticize. Even if the criticisms are valid, even if there are real problems that need attention - If that's all you focus on, eventually you stop valuing the relationship altogether. You start to wonder why you would put in any effort and your resilience drains right out.

Something similar happens when we think about our communities, our workplaces, our schools. And our country.

Resilient people don't ignore problems. Resilient people look directly at them. But they also look for strengths.They look for wins. They look for evidence that improvement is possible.

Because hope isn't denial. Hope is fuel.

One of the ways we build resilience is by noticing what is working while we work to improve what isn't. This July 4th, I'll be doing both.

What is one thing about your community, your neighborhood, or your country that gives you hope right now?

All my best,

Dr. G