Always Review Positively

Always Review Positively

If we are positive at the start of an enterprise, we should be equally positive at the end when we review. Many people become discouraged when things don’t go to plan and they beat themselves up for missing out on the one thing that didn’t work. But there are always gems of real worth in every situation, even apparent disasters, if we only look hard enough. One way to review positively is to use igniter phrases rather than chloroform phrases. So, an obstacle is not a “barrier” but a “challenge”; a setback is not a “disaster” but a “chance to learn”; and a tough problem is not a “failure”, but “a nut we’re going to crack”.

The story is told of an African king who grew up with a friend who had a very positive outlook on life.

One day when they were both out hunting, the king accidentally blew his finger off to which the friend replied, “This is good”. Annoyed with this remark, the king immediately dispatched his friend to jail

A year later the king was out on another hunting expedition when he was captured by cannibals. They put him in a pot and were about to eat him when they noticed his missing finger. Unable to eat anyone who wasn’t whole, they let him go.

Full of remorse, the king released his friend from jail and begged him for forgiveness for sending him to jail.

“That’s OK,” said the friend. “Why?” replied the king. “Well, if I hadn’t been in jail, you’d have had all your fingers. And I’d have been with you.”