Have you noticed how much easier and more fulfilling it is when we work together to accomplish a task? Do you recall working with a group on a dreaded project, only to conclude with a positive experience and outcome? Was there a time of crisis when you and others put aside any differences and worked together to help others in need? There is strength in unity. When we gather together to tackle a problem with the desire to create an effective outcome, we may often find unexpected success.
An old man at the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He requested a bundle of sticks and said to his eldest son, "Break it." The son strained and strained, but in spite of all his efforts was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful.
"Untie the bundle," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, he said to them, "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken.
And... "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
One of the United State's most beloved and revered presidents, Abraham Lincoln, made this point in a speech that he gave in Springfield, Illinois on June 16, 1858 when he was campaigning to become an Illinois Republican senator. At that time the country was divided in its belief as to whether slavery should be abolished.
Although the challenges that we encounter in our lives today may be trivial by comparison, we may find our workplace and communities divided when we pull against each other. There is strength when we draw together at work or at home. When we are facing challenges, we will find greater rewards if we work together to achieve our goals.
The idea presented by Lincoln in 1858 remains true even today. "We shall not fail -- if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise counsels may accelerate or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later, the victory is sure to come."
At home or work, look for ways to unite to resolve issues and solve problems. It may involve compromise, negotiation or a willingness to give up personal agendas for the good of the organization, family or community, but the success that can flow from these actions can often be more positively impactful than we could ever have imagined.
Affirmation:
"I will strive to be part of a solution instead of part of the problem, by uniting with others to bring about a better outcome."
By Mary Rau-Foster
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