Following The Thread Forward
Through my studies of C. S. Lewis I have become a huge fan, and thus student of George MacDonald. Lewis considered MacDonald one his earliest influences after reading Phantastes at the age of 16. I am reading MacDonald’s great faerie tale The Princess and the Goblin right now. In this great literary work MacDonald told the enchanting story of Princess Irene and her brave encounters with the goblins who threaten her kingdom. Through her adventures, Irene discovers inner strength, the importance of faith, and the value of listening to wise guidance. The message MacDonald conveys highlights the triumph of good over evil, the significance of trust in oneself and others, and the idea that courage often comes from unexpected sources.
There was a line in the book as I was reading this morning where Princess Irene was on an adventure following a thread from her grandmother. It was said that, “She rose at once, and found the thread. But the instant she tried to feel it backwards, it vanished from her touch. Forwards, it led her hand up to the heap of stones – backwards it seemed nowhere” (p. 64). This really made me think about our moving forward in life. We really don’t get to go backward.
Then I thought about the genius of MacDonald having the thread represent guidance, intuition, and the idea of trust in one’s instincts or inner direction. When the thread leads Princess Irene forward but disappears when she tries to trace it backwards, it symbolizes the importance of looking ahead and having faith in the path we are on, rather than dwelling on the past or second-guessing.
George MacDonald seemed to be conveying a lesson about the necessity of moving forward in life with confidence, even when faced with uncertainty. He encouraged us to trust our instincts and follow the guiding forces in our lives, rather than getting lost in doubts or regrets about what has already happened. The metaphor of the thread suggested that progress often requires faith and courage, and that the right path may not always be clear if we focus too much on what is behind us.
Planting Ourselves In A Tall Forest
I have been described as being eclectic and I would have to say that I am guilty as charged. I do have very diverse interests and influences that span various fields, ideas, and cultural perspectives. This eclectic approach allows me to draw from multiple sources, styles, or traditions rather than adhering to a single framework or ideology. I describe this as having a blend of ideas. This eclecticism grants the incorporation of different philosophies, methodologies, and subject matters to create a more comprehensive learning experience for both myself and my clients.
Iconic poet T. S. Eliot created rich tapestries of meaning and emotion, making his work resonate on multiple levels. Thomas R. Rees described Eliot as a “master of eclectic synthesis.” This highlights Eliot’s unique ability to draw from a wide variety of influences and styles, melding them into a cohesive and innovative body of work. Eliot’s poetry often incorporates diverse cultural, literary, and philosophical elements, reflecting his deep engagement with different traditions and his skill in reinterpreting them.
Eliot believed that to find our own “originality” we need to surround ourselves with strong, supportive individuals who can help us grow and thrive. If we use the metaphor of the distillation process, we are taking everything we are exposed to, think of that as the corn, rye, barley, and yeast, and creating the original us, or metaphorical bourbon. In The Sacred Wood Eliot said, “One of the surest of tests [of greatness] is the way in which a poet borrows. Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.” We all need to have deep engagement in incorporating the diverse cultural, literary, and philosophical elements we are exposed to and reinterpreting them.
Karen Burke Lefevre put it this way in Invention As a Social Act:
“There will always be great need for individual initiative, but no matter how inventive an individual wants to be, he will be influenced for better or for worse by the intellectual company he keeps. On top of Mt. Mansfield in Vermont, there are thirty-year-old trees that are only three feet tall. If a tree begins to grow taller, extending beyond the protection of the others, it dies. The moral for inventors [and artists]: Plant yourself in a tall forest if you hope to have ideas of stature.”
Acceptance Versus Condemnation
Effective leaders must recognize and accept the current state of their organization, including challenges and shortcomings. This acceptance is crucial for making informed decisions and implementing necessary changes. When teaching this in my leadership development programs I always quote Carl Jung who said, “We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.” Jung was such a deep thinker and this quote always makes participants think and it stirs great conversation. Jung’s message was that acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; rather, it means recognizing reality without judgment. By accepting what is, we free ourselves from the burden of resistance and can begin to work toward meaningful change.
“We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.” Carl Jung
True change cannot occur until we fully acknowledge and accept our current situation. When we resist or condemn our data, reality, or experiences—whether they are emotions, thoughts, or real circumstances—we often create a cycle of oppression and denial, making it harder to move forward. Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; rather, it means recognizing reality without judgment.
You Do Yourself
Yesterday I wrote about not holding ourselves to others’ timelines in Use Your Own Timeline. In the same conversation that inspired that post the phrase “you do yourself” was also used. This suggested that we should embrace who we truly are and make choices that align with our own personal core values and aspirations. That thought complements the idea of following our own unique timeline by encouraging us to prioritize our individuality over societal pressures or comparisons with others.
When we “do yourself,” we focus on what genuinely resonates with us, which can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. It’s about recognizing that our journey is ours alone and that it’s okay to carve out our own way, even if it looks different from others.
Use Your Own Timeline
Yesterday I heard the phrase “Don’t hold yourself to someone else’s timeline.” In the context it was used, the person was stressing to another that she shouldn’t compare her progress or achievements to those of others. This was a great reminder to focus on our own journey, goals, and pace rather than feeling pressured to meet external expectations or follow someone else’s schedule. Everyone has their own unique path in life, and what works for one person may not work for another.
Making Our Own Luck
The past couple of days I have the phrase related to “making one’s own luck.” I’ve thought about this a lot and wonder if we can make our own luck. While we can’t control every circumstance, we can certainly influence our own luck through our actions and mindset. As the old saying goes, luck often comes to those who are ready for opportunities. By honing our skills and learning new things, we increase the chances of seizing opportunities when they arise.
It also comes down to building relationships because those relationships can open doors that might not be available otherwise. Also, what seems like bad luck can be a valuable learning experience. Embracing failure as a part of the journey can lead to greater success in the future.
I guess we can say luck can sometimes play a role, our efforts and attitudes can significantly shape the outcomes we experience. In other words, if we want to make our own luck we must take the initiative. We can’t wait for opportunities to come to us. We must be proactive in seeking out new experiences or challenges.
Good Is Good
I was listening to a YouTube interview of one of my favorite artists, Amy Lee, and she made the comment, “Good is good.” I used to make a similar comment, “Good teaching is good teaching.” These thoughts emphasize the idea that something is inherently good, valuable, or worthy on its own merit, without needing further justification or comparison. We might teach using different styles or strategies, but good teaching is still good teaching. Lee’s point was that even though she doesn’t like country music, the genre doesn’t matter because “good is good.” She was suggesting a recognition of the intrinsic quality or positive nature of something, reinforcing the idea that goodness exists independently and should be acknowledged as such.
Amy Lee was a great person to prompt my reflections here because of her powerful and emotive voice, that has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. As I said, she is one of my favorites. Throughout her career, Amy has been praised for her artistic vision, profound lyrics, and ability to convey deep emotion through her music. In addition to her work with Evanescence, Amy has pursued various solo projects, collaborations.
As I reflected on the interview, I recognized that sometimes we, as leaders, overcomplicate situations or decisions. The phrase she used emphasized that goodness can be straightforward and should be appreciated for its inherent value, encouraging us to simplify processes and communications. No matter what we produce or what service we provide, we must have a clear understanding of what constitutes ‘good’ within our organization or community. This clarity can guide decision-making and align our efforts toward shared values.
Distinctions That Matter
I have always been intrigued by the phrase, “a distinction without a difference.” I think it interests me because we tend many times to make big deals out of minor distinctions when there truly is no difference in what we are saying. The phrase “a distinction without a difference” reminds us that some differences may be superficial, irrelevant, or just semantics. Leaders should focus on genuine distinctions that drive progress, understanding that clarity and significance are crucial for effective decision-making and communication within our teams. Making distinctions that do not result in meaningful changes or improvements can lead to confusion and inefficiency.
While contemplating this post I thought about a quote from John McCarthy: “Hard distinctions make bad philosophy.” When studying McCarthy in my Oxford AI course I was fascinated by his suggestion that binary or strict classifications may overlook the complexities and nuances of reality. McCarthy’s philosophies encouraged a more flexible and thoughtful approach to distinguishing concepts, allowing for the shades of gray that often exist in complex ideas and real-life situations. In essence, he was calling for intellectual humility and an acknowledgment that life and thought cannot always be neatly categorized.
Don’t Get Bored!
I’m a huge Candace Parker fan and have followed her career. She is an incredible leader and role model. I now love to listen to her comments as a studio analyst for CBS/TNT Sports. In a discussion about the Michigan State/Bryant game she was complimenting Tom Izzo and how it had to bring his players a great deal of confidence that their coach had been in the NCAA tournament so many times. Izzo, she pointed out, has seen almost all possible scenarios play out. We a lot of times forget how great a coach he is and how great a program that is. As a Purdue guy that was hard for me to say. She then talked about how so often we fall in love with something and then we get bored. I interpreted this as a reflection on how people often become enamored with something new, such as a relationship, a career, or a passion, only to lose interest over time.
This sentiment suggests that the initial excitement and allure can fade, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction or boredom. In the context of sports or personal pursuits, it may imply that while the thrill and joy of participating or competing can be overwhelming at first, the ongoing demands and challenges can lead to a lack of engagement if one doesn’t find ways to maintain that spark. It encourages individuals to seek continuous growth and renewal rather than relying solely on the initial passion to sustain our interest.
Seeing The Leadership Blind Spots
I have written and posted about ‘blind spots’ before in Overcoming Hidden Challenges in Leadership, Why You Should Read “What Are Your Blind Spots?”, and The Blind Spots Identified. Then yesterday I heard the phrase, “Overconfidence creates blind spots.” That creates an entirely new train of thought. As leaders we need to be aware that overconfidence can lead to a lack of awareness regarding potential risks and challenges.
This was a good reminder of the risks of excessive self-assurance. We must remain open to new ideas and perspectives. Overconfidence may cause us to dismiss valuable input from others, leading to missed opportunities for improvement. We need to be careful of overconfidence leading to confirmation bias, where we begin seeking out information that supports our own beliefs while disregarding evidence that contradicts them. This further entrenches our blind spots, as we may not actively seek diverse viewpoints or consider the full range of possibilities.
We need to be careful not to ignore feedback, dismiss others’ input, or fail to recognize potential risks. Further mitigation of the blind spots would be to cultivate humility, encourage open dialogue, and foster a community where questioning and constructive criticism are welcomed.
Byron's Babbles 
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