
Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville – did not.
The Grinch hated Christmas – the whole Christmas season. Now, please don’t ask why; no one quite knows the reason. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. Or it could be that his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
But I think that the most likely reason of all… may have been that his heart was two sizes too small. But, whatever the reason, his heart or his shoes, he stood there on Christmas Eve hating the Whos.
From: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
It’s You
The Whos weren’t hate-worthy. Love and hate are about you not others. The Grinch hated the Whos because his heart was two sizes too small.
Feelings reveal what’s in you not what’s around you.
And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!
Leaders without tenderness for others are well manicured cemeteries, pretty to look at but full of dead bones.
Everything is cold technique and dead strategy for heartless leaders.
5 Actions that Grow Heart
- Witness love. Notice and emulate people with big hearts.
- Seek proximity. The Grinch avoided the Whos. It’s easy to hate from a distance. Nearness enlarges.
- Take responsibility. Reflect on the impact of your words and actions.
- Find meaning. Connect to something that matters beyond yourself.
- Give love. Don’t discuss it. Action, not intention, grows heart.
How can leaders grow hearts?
—
This post was previously published on LEADERSHIPFREAK.BLOG and is republished with Creative Commons license.
—
If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
The Good Men Project is a mission-driven media platform founded in 2010 that helps writers, brands, agencies, and organizations build credibility, audience, and long-term authority. By publishing stories about masculinity, mental health, relationships, fatherhood, identity, and personal development, GMP provides a trusted ecosystem where ideas gain visibility, trust, and resilience in both search and AI-driven discovery. The platform supports individual contributors as well as high-volume agencies through paid guest posts, sponsored content, and bulk publishing systems designed for scale.
How does GMP approach business and leadership content?
We examine business through a human lens. Instead of glorifying hustle culture or domination-based leadership, GMP explores ethical leadership, burnout, purpose, workplace equity, and how men can lead without sacrificing their values or mental health.
Do you write about business and leadership? Submit here. Looking for paid guest posts? Email [email protected]
What does The Good Men Project mean by “ethics”?
Ethics at GMP is about how we treat one another—and the world—when no one is watching. Our ethics coverage explores integrity, accountability, empathy, and moral decision-making in everyday life, politics, business, relationships, and leadership.
What is The Good Men Project’s mission?
Our mission is to expand the conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century — in ways that are inclusive, emotionally honest, and grounded in real human experience.
—
Photo credit: iStock.com

