The Lion and the Cougar

It's easy to get caught up in our conflicts, particularly when our position is the correct one (which is usually the case, right?), but sometimes we have to be able to see past the frustration to the bigger picture. If we make it our practice to keep the purpose of our work in mind, it will get harder and harder for arguments to trip us up.

This is a great practice for the workplace, but what about in our personal lives? Where do you find yourself losing focus on the bigger picture?

TRANSCRIPT: A lion and a cougar arrived at a water hole at the same time. They began to argue about who should drink first. The argument grew heated, and each decided he would rather die than let the other go first. Their emotions turned to rage and a battle erupted.

Suddenly, the fight stopped. Vultures had appeared and were circling overhead, waiting for the loser to fall. The two beasts watched the vultures for a moment, then both drank and walked away. The thought of being devoured ended their quarrel.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. When we lose our heads in needless arguments, the vultures begin to circle. But when we keep our cool and find the solution that benefits everyone, we win . . . it's the high calling of our daily work.