The original English-language translation of this passage comes from James Legge (1861): 

“To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue,” 

I updated it with more modern and relatable language, while staying true to Confucius’ meaning, with the help of ChatGPT. 

Confucius was saying:

1️⃣ Notice when you’re off course  →  Emotional reactivity, impulse, overwhelm
2️⃣ Pause  →  Self-regulate, reflect
3️⃣ Realign  →  Remember values, long-term principles
4️⃣ Return to right action  →  Now that you’ve mastered this process
5️⃣That’s virtue. That’s resilient leadership. 

Indeed, the science says: 

1️⃣Notice when you’re off course → Self-awareness
💠Self-aware leaders recognize emotional triggers and stress responses early
💠This helps them course-correct before small issues grow into bigger problems

2️⃣Pause → Self-regulation
💠Pausing to manage emotions prevents reactive decisions
💠Self-regulation leads to better judgment, less conflict, and stronger team trust

3️⃣Realign → Values and principles
💠Returning to core values boosts resilience and reduces burnout
💠Leaders who realign with values make wiser, more ethical choices under pressure

4️⃣Return to right action → Mastery through reflection
💠Leaders who reflect and realign build flexibility
💠They learn from setbacks and re-engage with clarity and purpose—not perfectionism

5️⃣ Virtue → Ethical leadership and resilience
💠Research shows that leaders who practice these skills
➡️ earn greater trust
➡️ reduce burnout
➡️ help their teams stay resilient

💡When have you paused to realign—and how did it improve your leadership?

This is one of my Big Ideas posts—where I explore how new ideas, good science, creativity, and bold leadership can help us build a better world.

I believe ADHD leaders have the empathy and creativity to solve the world’s biggest problems, and I want to support as many of them as possible as they step into leadership.