Forging Virtue: Sharpening Values, Ethics, and Self Awareness

Part I

Integrity

An interesting place to begin, integrity has plenty of definitions, especially the what you do when no one is watching version. In fact, when we would ask students to answer the question what is integrity, that was the most common answer we received. It is easily, in our opinion, the worst definition out there. It takes zero courage to do the right thing when you’re alone. This is what makes understanding integrity so challenging. It can easily be confused or conflicting with ideas of morality (doing the right thing instead of wrong) and integrity (becoming the living embodiment OF your morals, values, and virtues). It takes immense amounts of courage to do the right thing, especially when it's not the popular thing, when everyone is watching. It is the ultimate what are you made of moment. This section addresses the parts of integrity— wholeness, honor, and virtues— that will give us all the will to act with integrity, regardless of the situation.

Wholeness presents the individual as three parts; the body, the mind, and the soul. Having each component of wholeness aligned and reflecting our values is an excellent start to knowing how we are going to act from day one. While certainly not simple or easy, kids will quickly become aware of what makes them tick in each way.

Honor gives us the code. That code is the blueprint that gives us a better understanding of right and wrong, when we know who we are, and where we came from. Identifying important people in our lives and why they are important gives us insight into how to act when they aren’t around.

Virtues are simply values in action. Wholeness and honor lead the way to discovering our individual values, but acting upon those values is what begins our work toward becoming more self-aware.

So, what are you made of?

1

Wholeness

A true desire is not to have, but to be. We are whole creatures in potential, and the true purpose of desire is to unfold that wholeness, to become what we can.

Eric Butterworth

What does

it mean to be connected? 

Every epic tale begins with one step. That one step sets the direction down a specific path that will lead to your becoming a more polished version of yourself. But when we take that first step, we must be connected to our physical world in that moment to know we are there to take a step toward our future, better self. 

We are all a different story. Our stories shape and define us. Some tales recount joy, happiness, celebrations and achievement. Others crush our emotions. Stories of abuse, neglect, absence, and loneliness leave us trying to piece any part of it back together. People find themselves somewhere in between, trying to balance the positive with the negative, while also trying to figure out who they are. Though your story does matter in terms of how you arrived at this moment, you write your own story as soon as you know where you are and where you want to be.

Your life comprises two primary entities; you and those who are within your circle. Think of it this way; when building skyscrapers, teams of men had to walk the high beams and scaffolding before the base and internal structure of the building could begin. The same is true for us. By collecting the right builders and designers around us in the best location, we can build the framework we will need for the work that lies ahead.

Our people - our friends, collaborators, and critics - ensure that we are connected in all we do. They understand where we currently are and listen when we tell them where we want to be. By grounding us in the present, they make sure we have what we need to grow. Being physically present means we are aware of those people, our surroundings, and how they all influence the way we think, speak, and act. Before we can think about other aspects of wholeness, we must be diligent about being connected and physically present as much as possible.

How do we mentally grow?

An active, present mind is a significant challenge. We see plenty of outer distractions, not to mention all the internal conversations we navigate. Understanding how we perceive things can go a long way in syncing our thoughts with our physical presence and awareness.

Visualization of goals and goal-setting are two practices to clear our minds for the present and the future. Life events and our reactions to them create our understanding of the world. Our perception becomes pre-programmed by a lifetime of inputs. How those influences mold our understanding of our own thoughts and emotions makes all the difference when we are trying to align our mind, body and spirit.

Mark Manson describes this by using a car analogy. Paraphrasing his theory, we acknowledge a few things that we feel are true, but might not want to admit. First, we are driven by our emotions. No matter how much we try to convince ourselves that we are logical and don’t give in to emotion, it just isn’t true. Manson argues that our logic side of the brain tries to convince the emotional driver of our brain to act, not the other way around. So until we understand that, we must use logic to keep our emotions somewhat in check, or driving in the right direction, we will struggle with the power and range of our emotions. The sooner we accept this as a truth for ourselves, the sooner we understand our emotions and thoughts differently. ¹

As we grow mentally, we want to gain awareness of our emotions, the source of those emotions, the way we attach meaning to those emotions, and finally, how far we will let them drive us before logic must step in to keep us on the road. 

How does

the soul bring my body and mind together?

When we are doing our best daily, both in body and in mind, we contribute to the overall integrity or wholeness of those around us and ourselves. This has nothing to do with how smart you are, what your last name is, or what you did yesterday. It has everything to do with showing up today, ready to grow, and preparing as much as you can to look for opportunities to evolve with every passing moment. But the last piece isn’t physical or emotional. It is deeply spiritual.

The Statue of Liberty in New York has stood as a literal beacon of freedom since opening in 1886. The over 300ft structure was the tallest building in New York for a time. A gift from France commemorating the centennial of the Declaration of Independence, Lady Liberty is one of the first structures vessels see on the way into the Port of New York. Her copper exterior quickly turned the green that we now see today. But it is a poem from 1883 that gave the statue life.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus gave the statue the one piece of the puzzle that was missing; a soul. Calling her the Mother of Exiles, Lazarus proclaimed the statue to be the symbol of freedom and opportunity for all, but especially those who had struggled the most. It enshrines the words with the statue’s purpose, essentially giving her life.

The spirit work that we need to do connects the physical and emotional traits that we have, while also connecting us to everyone else in our lives. It is the essence of who we all are. The soul, or spirit, we all have encourages us to explore our passions and interests. It pushes us to find new and meaningful relationships, even if those relationships don’t turn out so well. Our internal compass also leads us toward finding our values and virtues because we can validate them with those around us. We find our purpose, our passions, and our future by combining our mind, body, and spirit.

Sharpen Your Edge

1. Where do you feel most present or comfortable? Can you create that environment wherever you go? How?

2. What do you do when your mind is racing and won’t quiet down? How are you able to recognize your emotions? In what ways do they control you, and vice versa?

3. what are you most connected to that also connects you to other people (ie. music, theater, art, sports, etc?) How do you feel when you experience something with a group of other people?

While in the fire,

Wholeness looks like….

Concrete shoes

It’s just easier to stay where we are. New things mean new expectations, and that makes us uncomfortable. When we change our connections or location (where we live, work, go to school, etc.), we immediately become defensive, suspicious, and invulnerable, all of which are the opposite of growth. So instead, we stay in our comfort zone, our bubble, and keep the world at bay. Same view, same conversations, same meals. 

Road rage

We let our emotions take the wheel, leading us everywhere except where we need to go. Emotions are with us for everything. Instead of acknowledging that we have feelings, sometimes we just push them down until they force their way to the surface. Once that happens, they control everything we say and do, and frequently, that’s not a good scenario. 

Empty vessels 

Silence is scary to many, many people. So instead of burrowing into that quiet place and doing some soul searching, we increase the volume from the outside world. By doing this, we miss opportunities to center ourselves and connect on a deeper level. This also leaves us feeling empty and alone.

When Wholeness is forged,

it will...

Lace 'em up!

Seek fresh possibilities. Find the best place for you physically to be and you can grow. Take that first step! Force yourself to see things from a new perspective or position. Read books that take you to a far away place and put you in the shoes of someone you have never met. 

Break

the code  

Try to understand how your perceptions and influences, including your own thoughts and emotions, affect everything around you. Investigate your ideas and feelings for where they are coming from, and you will have a clearer understanding of your mind and thought process. Then you can make it work for