Take The Higher Road

By Debra R. Thomas at Livelifered.com

This week at work, I had a choice to make. I had received an email from someone who, frankly, was not in compliance with a policy at work. This person contacted me, via email, to point out that I had published some of her information incorrectly and had dispersed it to others. The information that I published placed her in alignment with our work policy, and by making the change she was requesting, she would no longer comply with workplace policies.

In my office, we have three women, myself and two incredible women who I rely upon to provide me with a check and balance system. Many employees read the emails and correspondence I send out daily. I tend to ask these women for corrections and advice concerning my email rough drafts before sending them.

I completed a rough draft response to this person who had requested to change the information. In the email, I thanked this person for letting me know about the correction she was requesting, and then in the same email, I gently pointed out that she would not be in compliance by making this change. After completing the email, I asked the women in my office to look over my rough draft.  

One of the ladies asked me, "what is your objective with this email?" The other lady stated, "if you would like to take the higher road, I would suggest you leave the second part out."  

"If you want to take the higher road, leave the second part out."

As usual, I took time to ponder the meaning of this phrase “to take the higher road”.

Today, I looked up the definition “taking the higher road” in three different sources:

"To behave in a moral way when other people are not behaving morally: He decided to take the high road and say he was sorry" (Source: Cambridge Dictionary).

"When you 'take the high road' - it means doing the right thing even if it's not popular or easy. ... If a person wrongs you, no need to go and seek revenge" (Source: Urban Dictionary).

"To follow the course of action which is the most moral or most correct and which is least likely to harm or upset other people" (Source: Collins Dictionary).

This statement is quite profound. I can apply this message to so many areas of my life.  

I came to a profound question as I was thinking about this phrase. Who do I know is an excellent example of a person taking the higher road? It only took me half a second to come up with a few names, and the person on the top of my list was my husband.  

Sadly, I do not honestly and truthfully feel that I can place my name on the list, but I think I can mend my ways with the help of the example of the ladies in my office and that of my husband.

I have always been a person who bases my decisions and thoughts on what is fair and the best choice for me to make based on principles. Now, I have a new element to consider. What decision would be required of me “to take the higher road”?

“Taking the higher road” will make your relationships more pleasant, decrease your stress, and, increase your self esteem.

“Taking the higher road” will help you feel more resilient in your life to move smoothly through difficult situations.

”Taking the higher road” empowers you to know you can demonstrate self-restraint in your relationships with others.

”Taking the higher road” requires determination to put yourself on “pause” when you feel tempted to be reactionary in a way that causes others to feel “on the spot”.