The Good Bad Matrix of People and Things

There is a phrase:

‘good things happen to good people’

and understanding that things are in balance and will balance somehow somewhere it must also mean that ‘bad things happen to good people’ as well!

Which ultimately means that ‘good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to bad people’

This concept triggered a whole thought process for me around this over the weekend, as good as we are and as much good as we put out into the world not everything goes right all of the time.

IT JUST DOESN’T and anyone that thinks it does is misguided.

The reality of life is that you will experience both good and bad, regardless of what you do or who you are, you will experience success and failure, you will experience joy and sadness, everything is on a spectrum.

Now the choice is yours of whether you want to be a ‘good person’ or a ‘bad person’ and the percentage of the time you have to be either, it is your choice of how you do what you do and what you do. You can influence what happens to you and you cannot control it – all you can control is yourself and influence that around you.

The joy of life is that we live it and the spectrum plays for all of us, to not live full of life and to live life rather than life live us is a waste of the miracle we are.

The Matrix

I have put together a matrix that depicts the good versus bad regarding people and things and what that looks like

I have created a grid diagram, a simple 4 quadrant matrix: describing good to bad things and good to bad people.

Of course, and it almost goes with saying and I need to say it that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are subjective labels and what is good to one will be bad to another and vice versa and of course there are some simple recognised qualities that will fall into each category and of course we all do what we do sometimes thinking about it and sometimes not.

My why, my reason, my mission – I write and talk about Conscious Leadership, The Conscious Leadership Code and Success Thinking – knowing and understanding who we are, why we make the decisions we do, and then making a conscious principled decision to do and be what and who we want to be.

A brief description of what each quadrant means, and in reality, it is not this simple, and it will provide an idea of what this is about.

1. Good Things Happen to Good People:
   • Description: This quadrant represents the idea that individuals with positive intentions, actions, and behaviours are rewarded with favourable outcomes. It resonates with the belief in karma, where doing good deeds results in positive returns. For many, this quadrant embodies hope, fairness, and justice. It’s a comforting notion that hard work, kindness, and integrity can lead to success and happiness.
2. Bad Things Happen to Good People:
   • Description: This quadrant explores the challenging reality that even individuals with the best intentions and actions can face hardships, adversities, and misfortunes. It challenges the simplistic view of karma and highlights the unpredictable nature of life. It’s a reminder that challenges do not always reflect one’s character and that resilience, perseverance, and support are essential during tough times.
3. Good Things Happen to Bad People:
   • Description: This quadrant delves into the complex idea that individuals who may engage in negative actions or behaviours can still experience positive outcomes. It’s a reflection on the imperfections and complexities of the world, where fairness is not always evident. This quadrant can sometimes lead to feelings of injustice and confusion, prompting discussions about ethics, morality, and the randomness of luck.
4. Bad Things Happen to Bad People:
   • Description: This quadrant represents the belief in retribution or “what goes around, comes around.” It’s the idea that individuals who engage in negative or harmful actions eventually face consequences for their behaviours. For many, this quadrant symbolises justice and the eventual balance of the universe. It’s a reminder of the long-term effects of one’s actions and the potential repercussions of negative deeds.

Remember: the labels “good” and “bad” are subjective and can vary based on cultural, societal, and individual perspectives. The descriptions provided aim to capture a general and simple understanding of these concepts.

What May Classify Someone as Good or Bad?

Perceptions of what makes someone a “good” or “bad” person are deeply influenced by cultural, societal, and individual beliefs. However, there are some general attributes and behaviours that people often use to describe others as either good or bad.

Remember: all of the words detailed below start as labels, and we interpret them through our own experiences and filters.

Remember: The binary labels of “good” and “bad” can be overly simplistic, and many people exhibit a mix of both positive and negative traits throughout their lives.

And of course, people change and regularly do – life impacts on us and what we ‘need’ to do one day may not be what we ‘need’ to do the next.

Now if we go into the difference of need and want, I could write a book – therefore, that is another article.

Back in the day, people were transported from the UK to Australia for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their families! Does that make them a bad person or are they a good person in a life-threatening situation – the person is the same, and the motivation and the behaviours are different.

Seeking feedback is vital for you to find out how you are perceived by your peers, colleagues, friends, employers, employees and I know some people really do not care and some care too much – there is a balance in everything you do in life.

And do not sit on the fence as such it is painful, it is boring, and it does not lead you to live life in its entirety.

How to Increase the Possibilities of Good Things Happening for You

Attracting good things into your life involves a combination of emotion, energy, mindset, actions, and habits combining mind, brain and body.

Here are some general suggestions to help attract positivity and favourable results for yourself, this is not an exhaustive list.

1. Gratitude: Practice gratitude daily. Recognising and appreciating the good in your life can shift your focus from what’s lacking or negative to what’s abundant and positive.

2. Clear Intentions: Know what you want. Setting clear intentions and goals gives direction to your energy and efforts.

Remember: ‘where your focus goes, your energy flows and that’s what grows’

3. Continuous Learning: Invest in personal growth and learning. The more knowledge and skills you acquire, the more opportunities you can attract.

4. Seek Feedback: Constructive feedback can help you grow and improve. It provides insights into areas of improvement, allowing you to attract increasing opportunities.

5. Good Deeds: Engage in acts of kindness and generosity without expecting anything in return. The goodwill and positive energy you put out can come back to you in unexpected ways. This can be a simple good morning or a smile to someone you don’t know – your energy is contagious, and you can very simply make someone’s day.

6. Avoid Negativity: Limit exposure to negative influences, whether they are people, media, or environments. Surrounding yourself with positivity can enhance your mind, energy, emotions and the quality of your life.

7. Stay Active: Physical activity releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. It also helps in keeping you healthy and energetic.

8. Meditation and Mindfulness: These practices can help you stay connected to the present moment and reduce anxiety. They also help in cultivating a calm and focused mind.

9. Build Genuine Relationships: Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Building strong, genuine relationships can lead to more opportunities and a more positive environment.

10. Positivity: Cultivate positivity thinking and behaviours by focusing on the good in every situation. Optimism can influence outcomes and the way we perceive events. There is always learning to be learnt and this is not about living in a fantasy world.

11. Visualisations: Visualise the outcomes you desire. This helps in creating a clear mental picture of what you want to achieve. This is really important if you want good think good, act good, be good.

12. Self-Care: Prioritise self-care. Physical, emotional, and mental well-being can influence the energy you radiate and, in turn, what you attract.

All the above supports you in building Resilience: Understand that setbacks are a part of life. Developing resilience helps you bounce back from challenges and keeps you moving forward.

Remember: while these practices can influence and improve the likelihood of attracting good things, life is inherently unpredictable. Embrace the journey with its ups and downs and believe that every experience offers a lesson or growth opportunity.

The Balance Between Good and Bad in Life

The concept is a profound question that has been explored by thinkers, theologians, and scholars throughout history and many others and me over many learnings and experiences.

Here are some perspectives on why life seems to have a balance of good and bad:

1. Natural Balance: Just as nature has its cycles of day and night, growth and decay, or ebb and flow, life too may have its intrinsic balance. This balance could be a fundamental characteristic of existence.

2. Growth Through Contrast: Experiencing both good and bad can offer a fuller, richer understanding of life. The contrast allows individuals to appreciate the good times more because they’ve endured the bad times, and vice versa.

3. Learning and Evolution: Challenges (often perceived as ‘bad’) can be opportunities for growth, learning, and evolution. They push individuals to adapt, change, and develop resilience. Without challenges, there might be stagnation.

4. Moral and Ethical Development: Experiencing or witnessing both good and bad actions and their consequences can shape an individual’s moral and ethical beliefs, helping them discern right from wrong.

5. Spiritual Beliefs: Many religious and spiritual teachings suggest that the balance of good and bad is part of a divine plan or cosmic justice. Some believe in karma, where one’s actions, good or bad, come back to them in some form.

6. Subjective Perception: What one person sees as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ might differ from another’s perception. The balance might not be an objective truth but rather a result of collective subjective experiences.

7. Emotional Spectrum: The range of human emotions, from happiness to sadness, love to hate, or hope to despair, contributes to the richness of human experience. Without the ‘bad,’ we might not fully understand or appreciate the ‘good.’

8. Perspective: This emphasises the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible power determining their own development through acts of the will. Individuals create their own meaning and sense of balance through their experiences and interpretations.

9. Social and Cultural Dynamics: Societies and cultures often define norms and values, which can influence perceptions of good and bad. This balance might be a result of maintaining social order and cohesion.

10. Biological Perspective: From an evolutionary standpoint, facing challenges (bad) and rewards (good) might have been essential for the survival and progress of species. The balance could be a result of evolutionary pressures.

It’s important to note that the balance of good and bad is a complex topic with no definitive answer. Different cultures, philosophies, religions, and individuals might have varying interpretations and beliefs about this balance.

A Final Note

What are the Real Odds of You being on this Planet exactly as You are?   

I needed to look this up, these are not the facts I have stored in my memory banks.

Now please think about this and take in the joy of life that you are actually here and get to enjoy life in all its glory. Good and bad, happy and sad, constructive and destructive – the choice is yours to design and live.

The process of fertilisation is intricate, and the odds of a single sperm fertilising a single egg are relatively low when considering the vast number of sperm present in a typical ejaculation and the number of eggs present let alone the whole cycle and age and health and generational influences. You, we, I are one kind of a miracle for sure.

Here’s a breakdown:

Sperm Count: A typical ejaculation contains about 200 million to 300 million sperm.

Egg Count: By the time a female reaches puberty she has around 300,000 to 500,000 eggs left.

Now match one sperm with one egg at the right time in the right place in the right environment with the right health and age of both parties and with all the good winds behind the whole process, and here you are, the miracle that you are😊

PLEASE choose and live your life with joy, love, happiness and anything else you desire – it is your choice, and you are the miracle that deserves it all as a good person doing good things xx

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