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The Noble Virtues - 9 Principles for Self-Improvement
Author: Mark Sampson
Article:
In a world of overly marketed quick fixes, self-improvement
audio series, books, seminars and miracle products galore, it's
little wonder that the majority of those in search of real
self-improvement become quickly overwhelmed amid the sheer
volume of choices available to them. And yet, a practical,
time-tested guide for self-improvement may be closer, less
expensive and much more easy to apply than you may think.
As is often the case in our fast paced, modern society of thirty
second sound bites and thirty millions dollar advertising
campaigns, the proven, often perennial wisdom of our past is
overshadowed and down trodden under the fanfare surrounding the
next world-shattering self-improvement craze. However contrary
to what advertisers and gurus alike will tell you about the
paths and products they pitch, real self-improvement does not
have to be cut, canned, critiqued and categorically
commercialized to be truly effective. For generations and indeed
for millennia, the essence of self-improvement was to be found
within the Noble Virtues.
Self-improvement is the result of work you, the individual (not
some other person, product or thing) put into or apply to
yourself to increase your individual value. This may include but
is certainly not limited to improving your health, character,
communication skills, work ethic, coping mechanisms, memory or
self awareness. The result of which can be an increase in
self-perception, self-esteem, attitude and/or an overall feeling
of accomplishment and personal satisfaction.
Within the Noble Virtues one will not find the often black and
white, fly or die advise of profit-motivated professionals and
fast talking fad consultants, but more of a tool for individual
interpretation and application. And although this may at first
seem a bit counter intuitive for someone in search of some solid
advise or a definitive direction with which to begin their
transformation, in the end, as with so many modifications we
attempt to make in our individual lives, the information we
learn, incorporate and make our own is much better served and
more effective than the rules and recommendations we force upon
ourselves that in the end, often result in frustration,
disappointment or failure.
Allow me to give you a few examples of how you can incorporate
the Noble Virtues into an action plan for self-improvement.
First example. We all know what is required to loose excess body
weight. Eat less food and get more exercise. Applying the
virtues of Courage to take a stand for your health and really
begin a weight loss plan coupled with Discipline, to cut out the
snacks, reduce the serving sizes you eat and get out and walk
briskly 4 times a week, you can empower the information you
already have and successfully loose weight. Second example. If
you would like to increase your work performance, you can put
Industriousness to work in focusing on processes to make your
work more efficient for your employer or yourself if you are
self-employed, and Self-reliance to stop relying on other
persons around you for solutions that you may be better equipped
to create and share with coworkers. So as you can see, the
applications of the Noble Virtues are only limited by your
knowledge of them and what you choose to apply them too. And the
more familiar you become with the virtues, the more quickly you
will make gains in any area of self-improvement you choose to
take on.
So without any further introduction, here are the nine Noble
Virtues for your review:
1 Honor - a feeling of inner value derived from a noble sense of
character and the desire to show respect for that quality when
found in another. Honor is the highest standard of behavior and
the mark of integrity.
2 Truth - to be forthcoming and honest with others at all times
despite retribution or reprisal; to say what one knows to be
true and right. It is better to say nothing, if one cannot speak
the truth.
3 Courage - the capacity to confront fear, pain, danger,
intimidation and uncertainty in the face of failure,
discouragement or death, and to do what must be done. Courage
separates the worthy from the unwilling. Without courage,
nothing great can be accomplished.
4 Fidelity - to be loyal to your source and true to your values
without limitation. To express an unwavering devotion and a
clear commitment to your duty, family, leader and god. Fidelity
is the foundation of faith and the cornerstone of trust.
5 Discipline - the ability to be hard on oneself first, and then
on others if need be, in order that a greater purpose may be
achieved. An orderly pattern of self-control, discipline
corrects, molds and perfects the body and the mind. There is no
substitute for leading by example.
6 Hospitality - the willingness to share what one has with
others and to graciously receive guests, visitors and strangers
with kindness and goodwill. Hospitality strengthens the bonds of
friendship and nurtures community.
7 Industriousness - the capacity to work hard towards your
goals, characterized by a steadfast, energetic effort to be
productive without waste. Efficiency is the life-blood of
innovation. Hard work is the harbinger of success.
8 Self-reliance - the true spirit of independence, relying on
one's own efforts and abilities to achieve what is good not only
for the individual but also for the group. Trust in yourself,
for god will not have his work done by cowards.
9 Perseverance - the ability to stay the course and pursue your
dream with dogged conviction in spite of setback, opposition,
discouragement or defeat. The hero will prevail despite failure;
the road to success was not paved by the weak.
You can achieve continual self-improvement utilizing the Noble
Virtues. You can set the course for your individual development
with this resource in hand and put the "self," back into
self-improvement without purchasing a shelf full of books or a
closet full of products. Apply the Noble Virtues in your quest
for personal development and you shall find the rewards of
self-improvement rightfully yours.
The Noble Virtues presented above are reprinted with permission
from The Corpus Illuminata. http://www.corpusilluminata.com
About the author:
Mark Sampson is a writer and lives with his wife and 2 year-old
daughter in Los Angeles California. This and other works of
inspiration including The Principles of Success and The
Principles of Leadership can be found at
http://www.corpusilluminata.com
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