“Its extraordinary that he’s not bitter.” People couldn’t believe that Nelson Mandela wasn’t angry or outraged, after being imprisoned for so many years. What people don’t know is that despite his calm and collected exterior, inside he was filled with rage against the system and the people who had suppressed him. However, his experiences on Robben Island had taught him to never show his bitterness. Instead, he wanted to show the world a face of forgiveness. Nelson Mandela emphasizes this idea in his lesson number six of leadership: appearances matter. He used appearance to advance his cause, and project to the people a bitter-less man who was sympathetic and a happy warrior that would triumph. His smile spoke to the people of South Africa and all over the world.
I relate to this aspect of the article and video because as human beings we have the power to choose how we react to certain situations. Smiling and staying positive has a more influential and inspiring effect on people than violence. Important leaders and officials are constantly being watched and observed by the people who follow them and emulate them. If one projects a positive outlook rather than seek revenge as Nelson Mandela did, that person would serve as a model to their followers on how to act. It teaches people that there are different ways to react other than anger. Nelson Mandela “killed them with kindness” and through his actions, we too should understand the effect of a simple smile, despite our internal turmoil.