Shrug or Stew?

Along with leadership comes failed attempts, rejection, and disappointment…

I screw up. I drop the ball. Sometimes my best efforts fall flat.

I will never be liked or appreciated by everyone. I get rejected, criticized, and laughed at.

I deal with disappointment. Things don’t always end up as wonderfully as I hoped they would.

So, what am I going to do when I fail, or am rejected, or feel disappointed with the results?

I can SHRUG my shoulders and move on or I can STEW about it.

The thing about stewing is—my thoughts, attitudes, words, and behavior will become flavored with negativity.

That’s what I don’t like about stew—everything tastes the same. The carrots lose their flavor. The potatoes taste all beefy. It’s similar to fruit cocktail in a can… there’s different shapes and colors in there, but everything tastes the same.

If I stew over failed attempts, rejection, and disappointment, my leadership will be flavored with hurt and bitterness.

I’ll become a gun-shy, poor-me, Eeyore (from Winnie-the-Pooh) kind-of-leader…

And the longer I stew, the more flavored with negativity I will become.

The other option is to shrug my shoulders, say “Oh well,” and move on.

That’s what Jesus told his disciples to do.

As he commissioned them to go out and share the Good News, he said: “If you’re not welcomed… don’t make a scene—shrug your shoulders and move on.” (Luke 9.5 MSG)

I’ve been around leaders who were flavored with negativity because of painful things that happened to them…

And whenever I notice this, it reminds me:

Be quick to shrug your shoulders and move on.

If I stew, I might miss my next great opportunity.

There’s more work to be done.

I can still make a difference.