How Bad Times Bring Out The Best In People

The constant negative news lately is enough to cause all of us to be afraid and want to hide from it all.  This disruption is also a wonderful opportunity for gracious people to step into the chaos with acts of kindness to help others.  In my small neighborhood filled with older people, I have seen an intentional strategy develop where younger families are taking care of the needs of widows who live alone.  This HBR post also reminds us of the powerful impact corporate leadership can make when we put others first:

“It’s easy to look around and see how the Covid-19 crisis has brought out the worst in some people — from hoarding thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer to crowding bars and restaurants despite public-health guidelines. But such irresponsible behavior, I believe, is more the exception than the rule. Time and again, individuals and communities have demonstrated that the worst situations tend to bring out the best in people and the organizations to which they belong. In every moment of darkness, it seems, there are countless moments of light — small gestures of compassion and connection that allow people to show who they are, how they want to live, and what matters to them.”

Read More …