According to a group of psychologists who study character strengths in the "Values in Action Institute on Character", there are six virtues of strength. These virtues of strength have been studied across all cultures. As we never promote shame, blame, and judgement of those who do not have strong values, these are great examples of what is possible for ourselves and our society when we choose it. These values represent a spectrum of traits that contribute to someone having a good, strong character. The six virtues according to these psychologists are wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Religion speaks about virtues as "behaviors showing high moral standards". Most religions define what they believe to be "virtuous" for their followers to practice. In Christianity, the seven virtues are temperance, chastity, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility. Islam holds their virtues as forgiveness, honesty, justice, respect of parents/elders, keeping promises, and controlling anger. Jewish virtues are kindness, truthfulness, humility, peace, caring for others, joy, and honoring one's parents. Hindu virtues are purity, peace, Love, joy, powers, and knowledge. The common thread in all of these religions is having awareness and a desire to live an elevated life that is a blessing to the self and to others. In order to be kind, to forgive, and to be humble, we have to spend time in self-reflection and contemplation. In other words, we have to work on ourselves in order to show up in the world in a Loving way. This involves forgiving the past, letting go of grudges, and looking at our challenges as gifts disguised as deep life lessons. These various virtues are wonderful daily reminders of what we can become when we choose the high road of positive actions, instead of the impulsive road of destructive reactions.
In this modern world and present day emotional and intellectual climate, is it possible to live a life of pure virtue? Of course it is, but it takes self-discipline. Our emotions, morals, behaviors, and intentions matter, and they tell the story of who we are and what we choose to prioritize in our lives. They also set the stage for the situations that we find ourselves in. Those areas that we still need to learn and grow from will continue to show up in the people and conditions that manifest in our lives. The school of life teaches us how to understand our interconnectedness to everything and everyone. It humbles us into understanding that we are one small piece of a very large puzzle. The karmic wheel always reciprocates the frequency of what we have sent out. Since we desire to be healthy and happy, then we learn over time what gets us there and what veers us away from it. The virtues exist to help us fine-tune along the way, and check in with ourselves to see if we are living in alignment with who we wish to be and who we really are deep inside.
A stubborn or unhealthy ego can become careless and/or reckless. It takes courage to be humble, moderate, peaceful, and kind every day. It is much easier to be selfish, cruel, and/or destructive - and it attracts more attention online with its shock value. The carelessness vs awareness fight has created culture wars in our social atmosphere. Virtues have been abandoned in order to prove a point, get people to listen, or fight a battle for a "side" - just because we want to be viewed as the side that's right. These may feel like great ideas to share on social media, but at the end of the day, behaviors of destruction toward other forms of life leave us empty and in the dark space of a very low energetic frequency. True strength and power arrives in the image of Love. The more Love and kindness we share with other forms of life and ourselves, the more we rise in frequency, health, success, mood, energy, and overall quality of life.
Ultimately, each of us gets to decide what we resinate with the most. We are free to live as we wish, and that is what creates the rainbow of life and the balance of yin and yang on the Earth. We will always have room to grow, learn, and evolve when we have enough of a desire to do so. Virtues help us define our character, and character is what attracts the relationships, jobs, blessings, and challenges into our lives. What virtues and values are most important to you? Are you aligned with each of them, or do you have some work to do to get there? This is what this time of year is all about. We have the space to reflect, to learn, and to grow in order for our lives to reflect who we really are. To practice living with these virtues is to live a life filled with them. May we all have the courage and strength to be our very best and live a life of peace and grace.