Loyalty is a wonderful thing. We seek it in all facets of our lives. We pride ourselves in having family and friends, who are truly on our side. We love loyal employees (if we are managing them). We want our athletes to be loyal to our team. We expect it from our partners.
But sometimes folks mess up loyalty by doing what is wrong, just to show support for someone they care about. And to an extreme (and lets not expand on this, because this is meant to be a lighter topic), sometimes people follow the wrong lead, possibly even in war. Their intentions are good, but they shield the truth from their path, because they want to believe in the one(s) they are following. (Again....lets not discuss war/other heavy topics....this is just an extreme example of the message here).
I will admit, I've been in error in this regard, because of loyalty that won out over the situation. I may have even done that here a few times. There's something so right with being loyal that we sometimes can't see details and the facts, all the while putting more energy into the battle than the discussion.
So many times I've been in business meetings and other group type settings, and some folks appear not even to be listening as they bluntly say "no" to a proposal or an idea that clearly has merit. They are on one side and one side only. Too bad. They are short changing themselves in so doing. They are also presenting themselves in the wrong light, and someday might wish they had been more open-minded. Possibly we should forgive their mistake because they may in fact be in a "cloud" of poor thinking, lost in the place they have slid to.
Again, loyalty is a great thing. It is a bond of steel, and what else could you want from another person? It is a special factor within a relationship. It is also a real driver of energy and enthusiasm, when one is in support of another.
I hope you are loyal to those who matter to you. I hope others are loyal to you. And I hope we all know the difference between support and "the right thing to do".
But sometimes folks mess up loyalty by doing what is wrong, just to show support for someone they care about. And to an extreme (and lets not expand on this, because this is meant to be a lighter topic), sometimes people follow the wrong lead, possibly even in war. Their intentions are good, but they shield the truth from their path, because they want to believe in the one(s) they are following. (Again....lets not discuss war/other heavy topics....this is just an extreme example of the message here).
I will admit, I've been in error in this regard, because of loyalty that won out over the situation. I may have even done that here a few times. There's something so right with being loyal that we sometimes can't see details and the facts, all the while putting more energy into the battle than the discussion.
So many times I've been in business meetings and other group type settings, and some folks appear not even to be listening as they bluntly say "no" to a proposal or an idea that clearly has merit. They are on one side and one side only. Too bad. They are short changing themselves in so doing. They are also presenting themselves in the wrong light, and someday might wish they had been more open-minded. Possibly we should forgive their mistake because they may in fact be in a "cloud" of poor thinking, lost in the place they have slid to.
Again, loyalty is a great thing. It is a bond of steel, and what else could you want from another person? It is a special factor within a relationship. It is also a real driver of energy and enthusiasm, when one is in support of another.
I hope you are loyal to those who matter to you. I hope others are loyal to you. And I hope we all know the difference between support and "the right thing to do".
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