In his landmark book Good to Great, Jim Collins described this as the “Stockdale Paradox.” It’s named after Admiral James Stockdale, who survived more than seven years as a POW during the Vietnam War and went on to be Ross Perot’s running mate in the 1992 U.S. presidential election. You can read the full account of the Stockdale Paradox on Collins’s Web site. But here’s the key quote, straight from Stockdale:
“This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
This is a wonderful lesson for personal development. Sometimes, all hope seems lost. There doesn't seem to be an end in sight to whatever it is that travails you. Being honest with yourself about the truth of your situation is imperative. It helps offer clarity that ultimately can lead to encouragement.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't remain optimistic. You simply need to temper your optimism with the discipline to prepare for the worst, too. This brings to mind my post about letting go when necessary as I have discussed recently.
