Listening to Our Better Angels ruthanitafoote.com/listening… #ourbetterangels #personalgrowth #humanity (Originally published in September 2025) If you listened to the recent news or social media, you could not help but hear the phrase Our Better Angels as a result of the turmoil in our nation. As the fate of the nation hung in balance in 1861, facing secession and civil war, President Abraham Lincoln said during his inaugural address: “The mystic chords of memory will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” Explaining exactly what our better angels means is a timely topic. I turned to ChatGPT for a condensed explanation, and AI provided invaluable and endearing words for us all: Lincoln appealed to the nation’s shared humanity, urging people to let their nobler qualities guide their choices instead of succumbing to division and hostility. When we speak of our of our better angels today, we are calling upon the highest parts of ourselves—the voice of conscience, kindness, compassion, and wisdom—that remind us of our shared dignity and common good. In times of conflict, fear, or uncertainty, it can be easy to let frustration or anger shape our responses. Yet our better angels whisper of patience when tempers flare, generosity when scarcity looms, and courage when despair threatens to take hold. They remind us that love is stronger than hate, unity stronger than division, and hope more enduring than fear. Choosing to follow our better angels does not mean ignoring difficulties or pretending differences don’t exist. Instead, it means facing challenges with grace and striving for understanding, even when it isn’t easy. It means practicing empathy, extending forgiveness, and keeping faith that the light within us—and within others—can prevail. This week, as we navigate uncertainty, may we pause and listen for that still, small voice of our better angels. They are always with us, urging us to rise above, to heal, and to create a world that reflects the very best of who we are. We do not want our country to remain in turmoil, and that is why I've expanded what began as an email broadcast to my Ruth's Growth Circle subscribers for my Sunday's Weekly Inspiration, I decided to expand into a blog because the phrase and its history are endearing, and we want to ensure a country becomes stronger and more united. I asked ChatGPT for recommendations on how we can become more like Our Better Angels in our business, career and personal life, and here's its response: 1. Lead with Integrity In business and career, integrity is the foundation of trust. Choosing honesty, even when shortcuts look easier, reflects your better angels. In personal life, it means keeping your word, honoring commitments, and aligning your actions with your values. 2. Practice Compassionate Listening Often, people don’t need quick fixes — they need to be heard. Whether with a colleague in conflict, a client under stress, or a family member struggling, listening with patience and empathy honors their humanity and opens the door to healing. 3. Choose Service Over Self-Interest Your better angels shine when you prioritize contributing to others. In business, this can be mentoring a younger professional or offering value beyond expectations. In personal life, it could mean volunteering, lending a hand, or simply being present for someone in need. 4. Respond, Don’t React Challenges will always arise. Reacting in anger or fear rarely builds bridges. Instead, pausing to respond thoughtfully allows your better angels to guide your words and actions. This practice can transform workplace tension, career setbacks, or even personal disagreements into opportunities for growth. 5. Nurture Hope and Positivity Hope is contagious. By keeping an optimistic outlook in the face of adversity, you inspire those around you to believe that better days are possible. In career and business, positivity fuels resilience; in personal life, it strengthens bonds and fosters joy. What do we do next? Please consider incorporating one or more of these recommendations into your life. And please feel free to share this blog with others or repost yourself, so that others can read it and understand the powerful history behind the President's words, Our Better Angels. In closing, I'd like to share this quote from Luciano De Crescenzo: “We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.” ~ ~ ~ I’m Ruth Anita Foote, an award-winning journalist, historian, author, and online entrepreneur—passionate about helping you enhance your business, career, and lifestyle. Whether you need writing, editing, research, or online business development, I’m here to support your growth. My goal is to empower you to elevate your success and make a lasting impact in your field. You can connect to all my social media platforms through Linktr.ee

Saluting the Drum Major! 📢

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Being the apple of His eye... 🍏❤️🍎

Enjoy your weekend! 💛❤️🧡

thecurrentla.com/2026/lafaye… Enjoy my story in today's The Current of professionals performing Black Composers' classical music during a recital at Acadiana Center for the Arts at 5 pm Saturday...

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Grace and mercy: Wishing you a beautiful Friday! 🩵 🩷 🩵

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On a Thankful Thursday being grateful with this prayer of hope, paying it forward as always from my friend Ethel C. 💚💜❤️

MLK Celebration on Jan. 19: Activities and Evening Commemorative Program...

When you need more balance in your life: Read 5 ways on how to add more in Donna S. Lam's timely post...

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Have a wonderful Wednesday! 🌺

Knock, Knock: Are You Answering the Door for 2026 ruthanitafoote.com/knock-kno… #personalgrowth #NewYear2026 #growthmindset [Note: Even though published as a New Year Eve's blog, its points are still relevant today] Knock, knock… Each year, we pause—if only briefly—to acknowledge what we’ve accomplished. Some victories were large and life-altering. Others were quiet, personal, and just as meaningful. And yet—if we’re honest—there’s usually a cringe or two. Those lingering goals. The projects that didn’t quite make it across the finish line. You likely thought you had more time. More energy. More space to get to it. But time ran out. And still—life moves forward. 2026 Is Knocking—Whether You’re Ready or Not Like it or not, 2026 is standing at the door. You can ignore the knock for a while. Cling to the familiar. Stay tucked inside your comfort zone. But what’s the point of that? There are twelve fresh months waiting on the other side—months filled with possibility, growth, and second chances. As I’ve written many times before, reflection matters. You need to take a self-assessment of 2025. And gratitude matters even more. Not—just for what we completed, but also for what we didn’t. Sometimes the unfinished work teaches us just as much. Reflect Before You Reach for the Doorknob Take time—intentional time—to look back. Ask yourself: What was the one thing you truly wanted to accomplish but didn’t? What kept getting postponed? What mattered more than you admitted? Let that one thing become your priority in the new year—not as a burden, but as a compass. Perspective Changes Everything We’ve all heard the saying about the glass being half full. But even when it feels empty—and you’re tired, discouraged, or frustrated—remind yourself: This season will not last forever. Eventually, the sun breaks through. It always does. Until then, treat every setback as a classroom. There is something to learn—about timing, boundaries, courage, or clarity. Carry that lesson forward with you... To read the rest, please click on the link at the beginning.

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