Focus on What's Right Instead of Who's Right

Winners never quit and quitters never win.
~  Vince Lombardi 

A dog owner loved their dog so much; they needed to take him on their vacation to an African Safari.  During the safari, the little dog got lost in the bush and was wondering around.  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed he was being stalked by a lion.  Knowing he was in trouble, he turned around and walked towards a stack of bones. 

Just as the lion was going to pounce, he exclaimed, “Mmmmm – that lion was really good.”  The lion immediately retreated and said, “Thank goodness, that wicked dog almost got me too.”

An owl was watching this unfold and decided to let the lion know what was going on.  Again the little dog noticed this and returned to the stack of bones.  The lion offered the owl a ride back to watch the attack on the little dog.  The little dog knew he was in trouble.  Right as the lion and owl appeared, the little dog turned his back, pretending not to see them and said, “Now where is that owl.  I sent him a while ago to bring me another lion.”

Sometimes, when things are not going well in our lives, we stop thinking and start behaving.  The only problem is the behaviors we participate in actually increase the overall risk of losing what we want.  For example, if someone hurts you your initial response may be to hurt back.  The fact is that two wrongs done to make it right may feel good, but in the end only brings more pain.

This is not to say that when you have been wronged, you quit and give up.  In the story above, the dog had every reason to freeze and give up.  However, he did not focus on what he didn’t have (big claws, big teeth, lightening reflexes).  Instead, he used what he did have.  He was creative and used his brain to outwit those attempting to hurt him. 

Responding quickly (without thinking) when you are under the gun typically places you at the greatest risk of getting what you don’t want.   In the end, you could lose everything.  The old cliché, you may win the battle but lose the war is very real in this situation.  The expense of being right could cost you the war on the issue of what is right. 

Thomas Huxley said it best.  “It is not who is right, but what is right that is of greatest importance.”  When you begin focusing on what is right and take yourself out of the equation, you become calm and collective with your decision-making processes.  In the end, this will surely produce better results!