“Yes, AND...” or ‘Yes, BUT...”

In both prosperous and challenging times, I believe that most Americans aspire to be a force for good.

Given a choice, most of us want to be an effective factor in amplifying the positive influence and productivity of family, company, charitable cause, and greater community. 

Luckily, we have a choice, and it is a choice that moves us away from a zero-sum game mentality to a force multiplier perspective.

The power of adopting the “yes, and” mindset was a topic in a pre-pandemic discussion relative to strengthening economic prosperity and building social trust while simultaneously pursuing unified solutions to address education’s major challenges.

Given the ongoing challenges facing our society, I think this is an appropriate time to reexamine the role our chosen mindset plays in our personal and professional lives and community interactions.

Research has shown that it is possible to change one’s mindset, if needed, and an abundance mindset, indicated by “yes, and,” is beneficial to student success, overall mental health and community harmony.

A purposeful abundance mindset expands a person’s capacity, positivity and creativity to leverage existing resources; to do more good deeds; to balance personal freedom with responsibility; to see challenges as learning opportunities; to engage in the spirit of compromise; and to take a non-critical and solutions-oriented approach to weighty problems.

What happens when “yes, but” is used? The “but” conjunction can indicate a scarcity mentality. Even when basic needs are met and sufficient resources exist, a scarcity mentality can result in being overly focused on a narrow mindset, which often leads to becoming guarded and less willing to participate in productive community problem-solving.

It becomes a zero-sum game: I win, you lose. The problem, though, is that in the end, we all lose.

It doesn’t take a big leap to see how opposing mindsets can lead to the idea that one side must win and the other side must lose, resulting in a breakdown in community discourse and halting the sharing of ideas that can carry a community forward even during a prolonged crisis.

It is possible to strengthen economic prosperity and build social trust while simultaneously pursuing unified solutions to address education’s major challenges.

If we make “yes, and” a practice, could one good deed beget another good deed that begets yet another good deed, and so on? Could this become a force multiplier that leverages our collective good thinking, expands our ability to solve problems, and restores unity, balance and harmony?

It is our prerogative and within our power to choose if and how we will multiply and amplify our community’s highest potential.

I choose “yes, and.” I hope you will join me.

Jennifer Vigne is president and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.