--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Recognizing the good, not just in one's…" description: "\"Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal circumstances, but in the world, makes anything possible. When I am asked about the important char..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/wilma-mankiller-15802_characteristics_recognizing-the-good-not-just-in-one-s-o_1213269.jpg" --- # Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal… ![“Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal circumstances, but in the world, makes anything possible. When I am asked about the important characteristics of leadership, being of good, positive mind is at the top of my list. If a leader can focus on the meritorious characteristics of other…” quote by Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/wilma-mankiller-15802_characteristics_recognizing-the-good-not-just-in-one-s-o_1213269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/wilma-mankiller-15802_characteristics_recognizing-the-good-not-just-in-one-s-o_1213269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/wilma-mankiller-15802_characteristics_recognizing-the-good-not-just-in-one-s-o_1213269.jpg) > “Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal circumstances, but in the world, makes anything possible. When I am asked about the important characteristics of leadership, being of good, positive mind is at the top of my list. If a leader can focus on the meritorious characteristics of other people and try to play to their strengths as well as find value in even the most difficult situation, she can inspire hope and faith in others and motivate them to move forward.” [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders who focus on others’ strengths and positive aspects inspire hope and motivate progress. **In simple terms:** Positive focus on strengths fuels leadership. Key Takeaway Cultivate a strengths‑based, hopeful mindset. Themes leadership optimism empowerment Mood hopeful encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team building - community projects - crisis management Key Concepts strengths‑based approach resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize strengths in difficult situations? - What methods help balance optimism with realism? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on positivity may ignore real problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-situation/) [Difficult situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-situations/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Good positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-positive/) [Hope and faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-and-faith/) [Inspire Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire-hope/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Positive mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [As buoyancy is not contrary to other characteristics of leadership, including decisiveness, accountability and performance standards, I don't ever think it can be self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/as-buoyancy-is-not-contrary-to-other-characteristics-of-leadership/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) > [People are more likely to pass me on the street without recognizing me, and that's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/people-are-more-likely-to-pass-me-on-the-street-without-recognizing/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [The next best thing to having good ideas is recognizing good ideas from your users. Sometimes the latter is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-next-best-thing-to-having-good-ideas-is-recognizing-good-ideas/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“Stop worshiping the bad in boys and start recognizing the good in men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-e-wagner/stop-worshiping-the-bad-in-boys-and-start-recognizing-the-good-in-men/) [Kerry E. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-e-wagner/) > [Some people are more fluid than others at just being themselves and recognizing what's good about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-brion/some-people-are-more-fluid-than-others-at-just-being-themselves-and/) [Jon Brion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-brion/) > [We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-the-people-are-the-boss-and-we-will-get-the-kind-of-political/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Leadership is about good and sound judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caputo/leadership-is-about-good-and-sound-judgment/) [Michael Caputo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caputo/) > [The secret to success is good leadership, and good leadership is all about making the lives of your team members or workers better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/the-secret-to-success-is-good-leadership-and-good-leadership-is-all/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [If there is such a thing as good leadership, it is to give a good example. I have to do so for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingvar-kamprad/if-there-is-such-a-thing-as-good-leadership-it-is-to-give-a-good/) [Ingvar Kamprad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingvar-kamprad/) > [When one shows good leadership, good mentality and is a team-mate, all the others follow him, 100 per cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-makelele/when-one-shows-good-leadership-good-mentality-and-is-a-team-mate-all/) [Claude Makelele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-makelele/) > [“Leadership has mostly been studied in the context of armies (military leadership), nations (political leadership) and business (corporate leadership), with good reason. Fine leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-vugt-mark/leadership-has-mostly-been-studied-in-the-context-of-armies-military/) [Van Vugt, Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-vugt-mark/) > [“Public opinion polls time and again show that honesty is among the top five characteristics people want in a leader, friend, or lover.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/public-opinion-polls-time-and-again-show-that-honesty-is-among-the/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [Success does not implant bad characteristics in people. It merely steps up the growth rate of the bad characteristics they already had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/success-does-not-implant-bad-characteristics-in-people-it-merely/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [The common characteristics of people make a community possible, but it is their uncommon qualities that make it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-fischer/the-common-characteristics-of-people-make-a-community-possible-but-it/) John Henry Fischer > [I look for these qualities and characteristics in people. Honesty is number one, respect, and absolutely the third would have to be loyalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-altice/i-look-for-these-qualities-and-characteristics-in-people-honesty-is/) [Summer Altice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-altice/) ## More by Wilma Mankiller > [Negative thoughts were treated by Cherokee healers with the same medicines as wounds, headaches, or physical illness. It was believed that unchecked negative thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/negative-thoughts-were-treated-by-cherokee-healers-with-the-same/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Remember that I am just a woman who is living a very abundant life. Every step I take forward is on a path paved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/remember-that-i-am-just-a-woman-who-is-living-a-very-abundant-life/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A significant number of people believe tribal people still live and dress as they did 300 years ago. During my tenure as principal chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-significant-number-of-people-believe-tribal-people-still-live-and/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Look forward. Turn what has been done into a better path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/look-forward-turn-what-has-been-done-into-a-better-path/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [People say that crisis changes people and turns ordinary people into wiser or more responsible ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/people-say-that-crisis-changes-people-and-turns-ordinary-people-into/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [My name is Mankiller, and in the old Cherokee Nation, when we lived here in the Southeast, we lived in semi-autonomous villages, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/my-name-is-mankiller-and-in-the-old-cherokee-nation-when-we-lived/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Every single person has leadership ability. Some step up and take them. Some don't. My answer was to step up and lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/every-single-person-has-leadership-ability-some-step-up-and-take-them/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/women-in-leadership-roles-can-help-restore-balance-and-wholeness-to/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A lot of young girls have looked to their career paths and have said they'd like to be chief. There's been a change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-lot-of-young-girls-have-looked-to-their-career-paths-and-have-said/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/individually-and-collectively-cherokee-people-possess-an/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I don't think anybody anywhere can talk about the future of their people or of an organization without talking about education. Whoever controls the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-don-t-think-anybody-anywhere-can-talk-about-the-future-of-their/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [An Indian is an Indian regardless of the degree of Indian blood or which little government card they do or do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/an-indian-is-an-indian-regardless-of-the-degree-of-indian-blood-or/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [We must trust our own thinking. Trust where we're going. And get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/we-must-trust-our-own-thinking-trust-where-we-re-going-and-get-the/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I've run into more discrimination as a woman than as an Indian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-ve-run-into-more-discrimination-as-a-woman-than-as-an-indian/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Prior to my election, young Cherokee girls would never have thought that they might grow up and become chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/prior-to-my-election-young-cherokee-girls-would-never-have-thought/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) [Explore all 42 Wilma Mankiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) ## More Characteristics quotes > [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/just-because-someone-thinks-they-remember-something-in-detail-with/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/a-second-characteristic-of-the-process-which-for-me-is-the-good-life/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [Philanthropy is one of the most hopeful characteristics of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-livermore/philanthropy-is-one-of-the-most-hopeful-characteristics-of-our-time/) Mary Livermore > [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/) [Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/) > [The most significant moment will be when we stop referring to the hiring of qualified women (and racial, ethnic and religious minorities) as significant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-trask/the-most-significant-moment-will-be-when-we-stop-referring-to-the/) Amy Trask > [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [ \[Joseph\] Stalin closes the exposition of these \[Leon Trotsky\] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of \[Vladimir\] Lenin's conception… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-these-leon-trotsky-ideas-with/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [It is true that 'I seem to see a table' does not entail 'I see a table'; but 'I seem to feel a pain'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-strawson/it-is-true-that-i-seem-to-see-a-table-does-not-entail-i-see-a-table/) [Galen Strawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-strawson/) Browse all 1,325 Characteristics quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal circumstances, but in the world, makes anything possible. 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