In my last blog I talked about choosing ethics over friends and vice versa. I realized that some of us don't have an established set of ethics and some probably don't have anything except the very simplest figured out. We need a code of ethics for ourselves to be better people. Now I am not suggesting a code of ethics that fits all people, that would be impossible. I am talking about creating a code of ethics that is for you, and only you.
First step is deciding what type of person you are now and the person you want to be. I am a person at a crossroads, I am trying to be a valued part of the pagan community. I am a currently a person that was angrier and stubborn as a bull, but is now more open and understanding to others. I have learned a great deal about paganism and I have so much more to learn. But a code of ethics is something that just doesn't pertain to paganism, it is about our whole lives. I am an honest person, I voice my opinion, I have worked with the same company for 20 years. I am a diovorced father of two. there are many little things and big things that makes us who we are. I would like to be an Author, Spiritual advisor, politically active, smarter, trusted, and happy.
Second step is figuring out who has inspired you or affected you in a positive manner. Write a list of these people and why they affected you. Please use historically correct people if you can. If you workj with other people and discuss matters like I am doing here, some people will find it hard to take you serious if you list an anime character is a ethical source. Yes I have grown inspiration from fictional characters, but I will seperate my views of fantasy and history. There are people that have molded us into the people we are today. Keeping them alive in our thoughts and writings is a great way to honor them.
So grab a piece of paper and start writing down things that are important ethics to have and go into detail. Also please write them in a positive manner. These will become your commandments, and when you violate them , you are sinning to yourself. I know that many will disagree with that, but building your own ethics and following them is what developes ourselves into better people.
1. I shall be honest
2. I shall stand for what I believe in. ( Winston Churchill said " You have enemies, good. That means you stood up for something sometime in you life.")
3. I will voice my opinion. (Winston Churchill taught me the power of a mouse in one of his speeches."
4. I will do the right thing.
5. I will show respect for other people's beliefs. But tolerence can only be mutual.
6. I will follow the laws of the land.
7. I will always be me.
So there are my first seven. There are many more, some major and some minor. These mean alot to me. I shall be honest, because if I can't be honest with others, why should they be honest with me. I will stand up for what I believe in, too many stand aside and let the wrongs occur unchecked. Someone has to say no. Voicing my opinion, some of you know I am very good at that, How can anyone know how you feel if you don't open your mouth. Doing the right thing, is very simple, if you know it to be right , just do it then.
Number 5 is a harder one to explain. I have my beliefs and everyone else has their own views. I might not like or understand some other religious belief, but I will respect that person's right to follow his/her heart. I will take what I know of other religions at try to understand how the other person feels. As long as the other person doesn't attack my beliefs I will not attack other person's beliefs. Only when both people respect the other's view can tolerence be established. And with tolerence there can come co-existence.
Number 6 is a touchy one as well. I will follow the laws of the land. And that means ALL laws. There will be no exceptions to this. That means I will not speed and I will wear my seatbelt. I will not try to justify an excuse into breaking a law. Some people say that it is alright to smoke pot, it is a harmless drug. But with my stance, it is still illegal for a reason, I will follow the laws.
Wintston Churchill motivated me alot. The quote from above also has a different message in it. You can't always be everyone's friend. In many groups that I belonged to, I am told that everone should just get along. Each person is unique, and so we all have different views on various topics. Sometimes this differences will cause a conflict. That is a part of life. To get along with everyone like some people think, would require us to be silent sometimes and to give up a part of who we are. Churchill was strongly opposed to appeasement before World War 2. And that is what we are asked to do when we ask asked to 'just get along'. It is our differences that make us who we are and if we can work through them it makes us as a whole stronger. So I will be me.
I talked about breaking our personnal commandments. When we do this the punishment is simple, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and admit you screwed up. If you know you are following your personal commandments you will be able to look in the mirror with pride.
Your person commandments can be usede to improve yourself. I have one about reading at least 100 pages a week. This is about discovering yourself and bettering yourself. Only when you know yourself and what you want in life can you move forward.
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