How to do the right thing: Discussions with Michael Carter

Everyone wants to think they are doing the right thing, but that’s not the easiest thing. It is hard to know what the right thing is during the moment. Regardless, we want to know what that is. In “Right Thing, Right Now” by Ryan Holiday, this is the main focus.

He discusses things like how to know what to do and why we don’t do the right thing when we know it. Sinclair Community College’s own Michael Carter spoke on why this may occur.

It might not be what we want to hear, but every person fails to do the right thing when they could. This can be for any number of reasons, but these are Carter’s words on the matter.

“People, when they have the opportunity to do the right thing, oftentimes fail to do it…there are a lot of reasons why they don’t do the right thing, but it’s focusing on that: Why people don’t do the right thing, and we all have an opportunity to do the right thing, and we can’t kick the can down the road. We need to do it right now.”

This is all good to keep in mind, but sometimes it feels impossible. People can get saddened and anxious about how the world operates.

An individual probably cannot do much about it, so they may give up entirely. However, it’s important to keep from giving in to this pessimism, and Carter has his own method for this.

“My mentor used to talk about a practice where for every one complaint you have, you have to write down five things you’re thankful for. And I help, I think that helps work through pessimism. And so all of us have bad things that happen, all of us have things that happen that would cause us to say, oh, what’s next? But I think it’s the idea that everything that’s negative, what are five things that I appreciate and thankful for? And that helps you get that mindset of not being pessimistic,” Carter said.

The question remains of how to know what the right thing is. Life can get so complicated, and the correct way to conduct oneself isn’t always the clearest. There are many ways to try and figure that out. Carter also has a solution for thinking about this as well.

“If you try to look at everybody you encounter as an equal to you, then you’re probably going to try to do the right thing. I think our ability to say please and thank you, to look you in the eye when I’m talking with you, signifies that I see you as an equal. I think that’s important, and I think that helps one do the right thing. No matter what their background is, no matter what their religious affiliation, political party, it’s seeing each individual as a human being,” Carter said.

Carter’s discussion on Holiday’s book reflects his lifelong advocacy for equality. As well as understanding the right thing and how to do it, even if it is uncomfortable. 

Sinclair students interested in more book discussions can look at the calendar on their website to find more upcoming events.

Andrew Barnes, Staff Writer/Intern

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