Personal Virtues

Virtue is a quality of character or ability which promotes your own well-being and that of others. There are many virtues that promote my own well-being and that of others, but I have chosen a short list of 13 virtues which mean something to me.

1. Compassion is an active desire to alleviate another person’s suffering
2. Empathy is the capacity to recognize and share feelings experienced by another person. You cannot feel empathy without compassion.
3. Generosity is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return
4. Forgiveness is the process of concluding resentment or anger
5. Integrity is honesty and truthfulness of one’s actions
6. Morality is the sense of behavioral conduct that differentiates between actions that are right or wrong
7. Vigilance is the ability to maintain attention and alertness over prolonged periods of time
8. Sharing is the process of dividing and distributing with others
9. Respectfulness is a positive feeling of esteem for another person and their actions
10. Loyalty is faithfulness or devotion to a person, group, or cause
11. Gratitude and appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one has received or will receive
12. Find humor in things by laughing a little; Laugher is good for the soul.
13. Self-awareness is awareness that one exists as an individual being

For me, I need the most help to fully develop the virtue of Vigilance. Out of the 13 virtues listed above, I have fully developed all of them. Vigilance is getting there, but I could definitely use some help. This virtue in particular is important for me to fully develop for several reasons. As described above, vigilance is the ability to maintain attention and alertness over prolonged periods of time. I think that lots of us have a problem with this virtue, versus others. For one, attaining vigilance can only benefit myself and others. It is positive, not negative. I chose this virtue to work on and cultivate because of my lack of relationship with it. I usually do pretty well with maintaining my attention span, but some people seem like they never get to the point when talking. I myself am often like that, and am trying to do better. Other times, my virtue of vigilance is outstanding such as when I am at work. I am fully able to maintain my attention, and perform the duties at my job. Whether it is a virtue that needs assistance or a virtue that is not developed at all, we all possess many positive virtues. So the question remains: How do cultivate these virtues? As I have always thought, living a values based life will bring true happiness. When we place our focus on virtues or values that are important to us, we can then become closer to our true self. As with anything worth doing, cultivating virtues comes from within. As elders say, happiness can be a trap just as anything else that is pursued. In my thought, cultivating a virtue is not so much about pursuing it as it is about becoming one with it. Knowing the virtues that are part of your character will only bring you closer to yourself.