Lean Quote: Good Trumps Bad - Finding the Positive in Every Situation

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"What is good about Good Friday? Why isn't it called Bad Friday? Because out of the appallingly bad came what was inexpressibly good. And the good trumps the bad, because though the bad was temporary, the good is eternal."   —  Randy Alcorn

Everyday we are faced with both good and bad situations. When things are going well, we rarely worry about what can happen next. We take things in stride and continue to move forward. We tend to take things for granted and begin to lose appreciation for the good things we have in our lives.

When something bad happens, stress immediately follows along with the litany of “Why me?” and “What am I going to do now?” Bad things rarely happen one at a time. Instead, they are grouped in clusters that can try the sanity of the most patient saint. It can be difficult to see the positive in anything.

It’s important to remember that no matter how bad a situation is, you will get through it. You can be stressed out and constantly worrying, or you can assess the situation and determine a plan of action. No matter how bad the situation is, there is something positive to be gained.

Your outlook on life will play a large role in how you see adverse situations. If you are depressed, angry and upset, your outlook will be one of pessimism and woe. If you have a cheerful disposition, you outlook will be much different. We all have good and bad days, so it stands to reason that every person will fall into one of these two categories at some point.

It is normal to be upset at hurt when bad things happen. It is human nature and a part of the healing process. What we do after the initial hurt, however, is what separates us. Instead of allowing ourselves to be drawn into a downward spiral of depression and anger, we need to look at each situation and find something we can learn from.

Using each situation as a teaching tool gives a positive resource of life lessons we can pass on to others. It is our chance to grow and be there for others who may be experiencing many of the same things we are. When we can learn to do this, we become positive role models for others who may be able to benefit from our experiences.