Go Boldly and More

Last Week, I shared on 7 Virtues for the Week as part of a 119 Day exploration of Character Intelligence. We started with Acceptance and Accountability and moved on to the those previously noted 7 for last Week. And now, we move on to another 7 for the Week of May 22 through 28 or whenever you read this, lol. Batter up!

REPETITION and KNOWLEDGE

A mentor of mine years ago said that "repetition is the mother of knowledge". That said, in the last post of 7, I shared that...

"... if we consider the?5 Strategies?of?The Virtues Project, as per the?Official Site....

SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

• Language shapes character. The way we speak to one another, and the words we use, have great power to discourage or to inspire. Learn how to speak the language of virtues when acknowledging, guiding and correcting to bring out the best in one another. When we speak the language of virtues we replace shaming and blaming of one another with gentle reminders of who we are and how we want to be.

RECOGNIZE TEACHABLE MOMENTS

• Recognizing the gifts and life lessons in our daily challenges helps us to cultivate our character. In everything there is virtue, either virtues being practiced or virtues needed. When we see any situation through the lens of virtues, we become more aware of the virtues we need to call on and the virtues that are already guiding us.

SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES

• Boundaries keep us safe. In The Virtues Project, boundaries are based on virtues. What virtues are needed? How do we practice them? This practice creates clarity and a climate of peace and safety, in all of our relationships-- at home, in school, and in the community. This strategy is needed when we have a problem in any area of our life. Personal boundaries help us to build healthy relationships, and protect our time, our energy and our health.

HONOR THE SPIRIT

• This strategy begins with respect for the dignity of each person and encourages us to make time for wellness, reflection, reverence, and beauty. It is expressing what is meaningful in our lives by participating in the arts, honoring special life events, time in nature, and sharing our stories with each other. What brings you joy?

OFFER COMPANIONING

• Learn how to truly listen and be present to another person. This is the strategy to use when someone else has a problem. One of the greatest gifts we have to give to another is our presence. By being deeply present and listening with both compassion and detachment, we help others to empty their cup and find their own answers. This approach empowers others to discern their teachable moments and to reflect on their virtues.

... let's look at their application." So, and for this week...

The Next 7

First, Boldness. Courageous. Brave. Daring. Not foolhardy and unwise. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said "What you can do, or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” The moments that I have practiced and experienced same in life have resulted in growth, in the face of any fear. As a shy kid, who remains inwardly so, I have learned that shyness is the strength that is Humility, but that we must not let it get in the way of what we soulfully desire most. Our Humility is indeed a strength in the face of arrogance, but Boldness can live and work beside it. My Understanding of meekness is that it originally and essentially meant walk softly with Strength.

• Boldness; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Boldness with my health... to boldly go forward, upping my own expectations. How about you?

Second, Candor. Honesty, Truthfulness. Tact. Know that Candor is not mean nor brutal. It simply is. It has no agenda to offend. It says what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, to ourselves or others. It is our most soulful expression, not born of ego, but something more noble; Soul.

• Candor; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Candor with my own reflection on path forward at this juncture... what do I most soulfully and truthfully seek out? With Candor. Yes, how about you?

Third, Caring. When I first read this card as a participant in my first ever Virtues Project session, I thought "this is a strength of mine". Then, I read the part where it inferred that we care for ourselves as much as we care for others. Hmmmm. I was reminded of that Commandment that says for us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. That Commandment implies that we should love ourselves too. Caring for ourselves and others is not hierarchical nor sequential, nor linear. It is not one before the other. It is a beautiful dance, together.

• Caring; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Caring again with myself... part of that health thing. And yes again, how about you?

Fourth, Certitude. There is much in this life for and around which we are not certain. But, there are things around which we can be. When I look back on my life thus far, I can indeed identify those aspects of my life for which I am indeed certain. They are rare but they are there. This is Certitude and it is hard earned. Indeed and in deed, Certitude is the highest order of Confidence.

• From your own life... Certitude; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Certitude through that afore noted Candor... to get certain on what deeply matters most to me ... so much so that I can articulate same in a way that makes my Soul sing every time I say it. I will be that certain. Aaaand, oh yes yet again, how about you?

Fifth, Charity. It is more than giving money or time. It is giving itself. It is a spirit, a countenance and gait. It is born of a sense of true abundance. We give, because of it. It is Trust, manifested. The times where I have consciously practiced and manifested same, I have found my spirit to grow. It has caused me to see my best capacity. Charity can be manifested in Forgiveness, effort, Caring, time, money, attention and more.

• Charity; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Charity in finalizing a list of key organizations and causes that I will sincerely and sustainably support ... as Commitment and lifestyle. I have a few now, but I need to look at where and how I can best support, and with whom. Need I ask... how about you?

Sixth, Cheerfulness. Think about it. To cheer is an action towards others, or ourselves. It is being a source of Joyfulness, Kindness and Love. We believe in others or ourselves, with it. It is not about toxic positivity. We encourage with it. The Professor who changed my life understood Optimism over positivity, and he cheered me on, in his very own way. I hope you have had someone as such too.

• Cheerfulness; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Cheerfulness with myself on that health thing. I am seeing a pattern of Boldness, Caring and Cheerfulness around my health journey. Hmmmm. how about you?

Seventh, Cleanliness. It is way more than personal hygiene, though that matters too. Clean slates are created by its practice. Forgiveness is a practice of same. Moving forward and through is too. Essentialism is as well. The times that I have practiced Cleanliness beyond basic and essential hygiene... I have found my own best sense of freedom.

• Cleanliness; study it, look back on your life and learn from it. Could it be a boundary virtue for you? How would you Honor it in yourself and others. How might it make you a better friend and companion to those who matter most? How could it advance your presence and listening? For me, this Week, I intend to practice Cleanliness through the practice of the first six... advancing health and certainty and giving. A bit of cleaning on the slate is at hand. And I will say once more... how about you?

This Week is Batter Up

Captain Pike has become a bit of a model of these for me, of late. It is good to find such. Idol and idle worship are not something to which I find myself drawn. But finding characters of Character and Purpose can be a helpful thing. That said, this past week, I have been consciously and unconsciously working on these 7 above, sharing on Simple Business and much more. But this week, more so, sharpening the blades and batter up! Consider these 7. How might they help? Peace...

Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.

Me?on LinkedIn

CHECK OUT

• The Character LENS to Lead
• Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal

• TUGtv
• The Global Goals
• The Virtues Project

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LEAD. INSPIRE. EDUCATE. UNITE.

• You?are an Activant … an Educator, Entrepreneur or Emerging Leader who is looking to make constructive change happen, on the ground, real-world, real-time. You are world-embracing and noble-hearted. You seek to mobilize a strong, united and character-driven team to change the world or your corner of it. You want to lead, inspire, educate and unite in doing so.?Let’s go build a better world!

I?am an Activant too; an Educator and Entrepreneur by experience, education and?Enthusiasm... with 40 years in leadership training and development, 27 years in business college education and 20 years certified and associated with?The Virtues Project. Additionally certified for 16 years in Temperament Assessment and with a longstanding body of work around Character Leadership, I help advance?conversation, consultation and capacity around?Character,?Purpose?and?Unity...?and?the?global goals. My work in business and education is to help those building a better world at school, work, business and community; locally and globally.?Humans together, strong.... that is?my?meaning... and?the space I can stay forever. To that?just cause, I commit.