The First Crisis Call…
The first crisis call is almost always the same.
I hear from the friend of someone who has done or said something wildly inappropriate. “He/She is a good person. They just said something stupid.”
The second call is with the individual. Distraught, isolated, and worried about the end of their career, they tell me that they were trying to be witty/funny/relatable, and it came out all wrong. That their mistake is not an indication of who they are. I then put them through a few paces, look for pattern behavior, and decide if I want to help based on whether or not they are being honest.
In most instances, they are. Their employers (or school administrators) often know this is the case, but find it nearly impossible to stand up to social media pressure demanding a firing or expulsion.
There is one word I almost never hear in these situations: forgiveness.
Forgiveness means we understand that good people make mistakes, we all do. Forgiveness allows us to use catalyzing moments to set an example of how we can learn from each other, how we can grow together, and how we can better understand the beautiful and fascinating racial, cultural, and spiritual diversity that make our country great.
One of the origins of the word character means “imprint on your soul.” Child development experts say that the way we build character is by taking the hard road.
We can’t control what comes out of the mouths of others, but we can control how we respond. Showing forgiveness – especially when its hard – not only heals division, but it builds character, it better prepares us for life, and it makes an “imprint on our soul.”
That alone makes it worth the effort.
Daniel S. Holt is the founder of Washington based Anchorage Partners LLC
If you or someone you know needs advice, contact us via email for a consultation, or click here to schedule a call.