The Stockdale Paradox

A very wise person I have come to respect often refers to something called "The Stockdale Paradox" as an approach to dealing with difficult circumstances in life.

The Stockdale paradox refers to Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the highest ranking United States military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War. Tortured over 20 times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973… in Jim Collins book “Good to Great” chapter 4 page 83 he is quoting Stockdale saying:

“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.”

In learning about this, I have realized that faith and discipline must go hand in hand. Too often in my life in the past, I relied on the faith and optimism that is natural to me in my personality.

But, I did not always do what was needed to confront brutal facts and take action in face of those brutal facts. Now, I do. But I do so without losing that faith, that belief that I will prevail in the end. I will. With my head held high and peace in my heart, I will.