Responsible Behavior Values

“I build self-esteem through responsible behavior.”
 

Responsible behavior is defined as the ability to fulfill one’s needs in ways that do not deprive others of their needs.  Responsible people act in ways that give feelings of worth to themselves and others.  They maintain a satisfactory standard of behavior by correcting themselves when they do wrong and crediting themselves when they do right.  Our below-standard conduct must be improved if we are to fulfill needs of self-worth; otherwise, we will suffer as acutely as when failing to love or be loved.  Responsible behavior is intimately related to meeting our needs of self-worth.

A person who is responsible:

• Respects the rights of others
• Contributes to the good of the whole
• Thinks of others’ needs
• Organizes activities
• Sets goals and achieves them
• Accepts and fulfills commitments
• Manages resources
• Keeps living areas neat and clean
• Is prepared and productive
• Is dependable and consistent
• Controls emotions; is slow to anger
• Speaks the truth
• Uses appropriate language

Honesty to Self Values

“I first must be true to myself.”

To thine own self be true, and so it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
            William Shakespeare (Hamlet)

Honesty is defined as not lying, cheating or stealing; being fair and upright; not hiding one’s real nature; being genuine, pure, respectable, free from fraud, and characterized by integrity.

Integrity is defined as a state or quality of being complete, undivided, unbroken; at unity with oneself; having soundness, purity, and sincerity.  Integrity is not viewed as a value or concept to be taught in the same sense as honesty, but rather is a desirable, credible state of being or virtue that will become a characteristic of a person that has gained knowledge of, has internalized, and practices the total concept or value of honesty: to self and to others.

Integrity, freedom, and self-esteem are outcomes that occur naturally if one adheres to the principles, rules, and laws by which they are governed.

A person who is honest or true to self:

• Strives to become the best she or he was born to become
• Recognizes limits; has endurance; steadfastness
• Is sincere and genuine; motives are pure
• Controls excessive behavior
• Recognizes things for what they are
• Has thorough basic honesty; does not lie, cheat, steal
• Searches for truth
• Respects evidence
• Has appropriate abstinence
• Develops integrity or unity with self

Honesty to Others Values

“Then I will be true to others.” (Note: The definition is the same as for Honesty to Self; the sub-values are different.)

To thine own self be true, and so it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
            William Shakespeare (Hamlet)
 

Honesty is defined as not lying, cheating or stealing; being fair and upright; not hiding one’s real nature; being genuine, pure, respectable, free from fraud, and characterized by integrity.
 

Integrity is defined as a state or quality of being complete, undivided, unbroken; at unity with oneself; having soundness, purity, and sincerity.  Integrity is not viewed as a value or concept to be taught in the same sense as honesty, but rather is a desirable, credible state of being or virtue that will become a characteristic of a person that has gained knowledge of, has internalized, and practices the total concept or value of honesty: to self and to others. 

Integrity, freedom, and self-esteem are outcomes that occur naturally if one adheres to the principles, rules, and laws by which they are governed.
 

A person who is honest to others:

• Lives the Golden Rule
• Has a sincere and open personality
• Is fair and straightforward
• Is comfortable with accountability
• Understands and builds trust relationships
• Is loyal to family, friends, associates, countrymen
• Has fidelity