It was 150 years ago today that our country lost one of its finest Presidents. Abraham Lincoln saw this nation through some of its darkest moments.
In Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin recognized Abraham Lincoln’s ability to understand his own emotional needs and connected it to Daniel Goleman’s definition of emotional intelligence saying, “‘Having hope means that one will not give in to overwhelming anxiety, a defeatist attitude, or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks.’ Hope is ‘more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all right;’ it is ‘believing that you have the will and the way to accomplish your goals.'”
Abraham Lincoln had tremendous strength of character. He is the standard by which all elected leaders must test themselves.
We have been fortunate enough to work for a few that met that bar. May we all be blessed with such an opportunity again.