When Nelson Mandela walked out of prison in Robben Island, South Africa after 27 years imprisonment, he had already decided what he needed to release in order to be truly free.
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” ~ Nelson Mandela
Mandela’s insight offers a powerful leadership lesson: holding onto resentment confines us. Letting go is what allows us to grow, lead, and shape a different future.
I was reminded of this valuable lesson in my recent podcast, Ripples of Change, with Anne Pratt, who grew up in South Africa and worked with Mandela. Mandela knew, she said, that in order to transform himself, he needed to do that work in order to enable him to lead a nation. How many of us smile in recognition of the truth behind his words?
“Changing myself was much harder than changing a nation.”
The lesson for all leaders, Anne says, is that, “when we hold on to resentments, often the other person or entity does not know, but mostly, they don’t care. So who does resentment hurt?”
“It hurts us“
Anne also tells a humorous story about attending a training where participants had to count the number of resentments they were holding. I laughed at myself when I reflected on the grudges that I’ve held on to. 😊
Prepare to be moved- and maybe to smile in self-recognition – when you watch this short excerpt:
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