Leading Thoughts for January 1, 2026

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with:

Psychologist Shane Lopez on hope:

“Hope keeps us in the game. With low hope, we stop interacting with the world. We pull back. Literally, we don’t show up. We just move through in a zombie-like state. We all go through periods of sustained low hope, and they don’t lead to anything good at all. But hope for the future—maybe even the distant future—is what keeps people focused and moving in a direction that makes sense for their welfare and the welfare of the organization.”

Source: Decade of Change: Managing in Times of Uncertainty

II.

Robert Quinn on externally and internally driven people:

“People in the reactive mode tend to make emotions the centerpiece of their lives. Emotions become the measurement system for assessing the immediate situation. People are then forever fleeing from or searching for the ‘right’ situation, the one that will make them happy. Internally driven people have a different perspective. They know that their emotional states keep changing. They pursue their intended result no matter what their temporary emotion might be.”

Source: Change the World: How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Results

* * *

Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index.

* * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas.