Miracles Around Us

“To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle.  Every cubic inch of space is a miracle.  Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same.  Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.”

-- From “Miracles” by Walt Whitman

I recently wrote about optimism and explored its transformative power personally and in organizations.  When I think about optimism and developing it in my work as a servant leader, I have come to believe that optimism is inextricably linked with having a growth mindset. 

Inspired by Walt Whitman’s poem “Miracles,” I realized that embracing everyday wonders can contribute to a growth mindset.  In turn, this profoundly impacts our approach to leadership and team development.

 The Connection Between Optimism and Growth Mindset

 A growth mindset, as popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and an openness to learning. This belief is deeply connected to optimism—the expectation that good things will happen and that efforts will pay off. 

I have been pondering what seems like a chicken-and-egg scenario: does optimism lead to a growth mindset or vice versa?

 Lessons from Whitman’s “Miracles”

 Whitman's "Miracles" teaches us to find wonder in everyday life, a perspective that can foster a growth mindset. By embracing the marvels around us, we cultivate curiosity, interconnectedness, and a positive outlook, essential for personal and professional growth. 

Applying Whitman’s Wisdom to Leadership

I believe there are some important themes contained in this work that can provide a roadmap for leaders striving to create optimistic, can-do teams.

1. Factories are modern marvels of whirring motors, electronic sensors, and bits of data flowing at light speed.  Embracing how these things have been created, how they have been built upon previous ideas, and their application is astounding.  Seeing the amazing detail in everyday experiences encourages curiosity and a love for learning.
2. We are all connected to each other.  Teams either win together, or they don’t win.  Understanding interconnectedness fosters collaboration and the belief that collective effort and learning from others can enhance personal development. 
3. Seeing the transcendence in ordinary moments encourages team members to find value and learning opportunities in every experience, no matter how mundane it seems.  That part being manufactured before our eyes is part of a complex system that is bettering someone’s life somewhere.
4. Focus on progress rather than perfection. Celebrating small wins and lifting up mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement creates a ladder of success that energizes individuals and teams.  We demonstrate that every moment is a chance to grow.

Final Thoughts

By embracing Whitman’s themes, leaders can create a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.  Every experience is valuable, every effort contributes to growth, and challenges are viewed as opportunities to learn and improve.

I don’t know if I’ve answered my original question just yet, but I think there is a link here worth exploring.  Integration of these insights helps us serve not just our teams but the broader community, fostering resilience and optimism wherever we go.