Date Started: Date Completed: VIRTUES EXERCISE: Instructions and Definitions

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Hector Brooks
5 years ago
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1 Your Name: Date Started: Date Completed: VIRTUES EXERCISE: Instructions and Definitions Practice using one virtue each day. Choose a virtue to use on other people as you go through your day. You can also practice the Virtue that day by writing a letter or making a phone call. Remember: These have to be done to someone else. Past experiences don t count. Thoughts don t count. Only actions in the same day count. Write down what you did while practicing that Virtue and who you used it on. Then write down the result. Many students do this incorrectly the first time and end up having to re-do it. But it s easy to do if you follow these instructions. It takes some time to get through all the virtues, but it s worth the effort! Examples: These are some examples done the correct way and the wrong way. Good Sportsmanship (6/23/12) Myself and another person played several games of chess today and I lost every game, but I did not get angry. Instead I congratulated him. Usually I m frustrated when I lose but I decided that the games were fun even though I lost, and this made me feel better. WRONG WAY: I always try to be a good sport and treat my opponents with respect. I learned this from my father. [Doesn t describe what you did that day and the result.] Appreciation (6/24/12) My cellie never leaves a mess and always picks up after himself. He also stays clean. I had never told him that I appreciated it, but today I told him twice! He looked surprised and didn t say anything, but I could tell that I made him happy. WRONG WAY: My cellie told me that he appreciates me for being a good roommate and not causing him any trouble. [Doesn t describe what you did to show appreciation toward others.] Honesty (6/25/12) Today I was honest in everything I said and did. I could have picked up a book that someone accidentally left in the TV room, but instead I turned it in. And I told my cellie that I used his pen even though he would have never known. It feels good to have a clear conscience. WRONG WAY: Today I was honest in everything I said and did. [Doesn t describe what you actually did and what happened.] Good luck and have fun!

2 Here are the Virtues. Remember do one per day. You may do them in ANY order. 1. JUSTNESS: When you treat someone right. When you are fair and honest with them without lying or being false to them. 2. LOYALTY: When you are true to the promises you make; when you are faithful to your family, friends, group, and country. Show that you won t betray a friend s trust. 3. GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP: When you play fair and don t complain about losing or boast about winning. 4. FAIRNESS: When you treat someone with honesty and with a courteous manner. When you play by the rules. When you are Reasonable. Don t take sides or favor one person over another.

3 5. HONESTY: When you are truthful, refuse to lie, steal or cheat anyone. 6. KINDNESS: When you try to Help others, be friendly or be generous; when you do something good or nice that isn t expected. 7. CONSIDERATION: When you show that you care about other people s needs, their feelings and their possessions. When you show that you are thoughtful of others and their feelings.

4 8. COMPASSION: When you feel sympathy for someone when they are down or defenseless. Show your desire to help someone who is suffering. 9. SELF-CONTROL: When you Control your feelings and behavior. Remain calm and level-headed no matter what is going on. 10. TOLERANCE: When you Respect or accept the customs, beliefs or opinions of others. 11. FORGIVENESS: When you stop blaming someone for something they have done to you. Give up feeling angry with someone. (Be sure to show or do something that lets the person know you forgave them. Don t just feel or think forgiveness.)

5 12. BENEVOLENCE: When you act with a kind feeling toward someone. This is good will. Take someone under your wing. Be charitable, kind and do something good for them. 13. BELIEVE IN SOMEONE: When you show that you trust someone and have confidence and faith in them. 14. RESPECT: When you show people that they are important enough to be listened to and their ideas and opinions are worth listening to. When you show others that you honor their reputation and that you have a high opinion of them. When you take them seriously and that they have the same rights as you would like to have.

6 15. POLITENESS: When you show good manners (for example: say please and thank you) and are courteous to someone. 16. DIGNITY: When you treat others as if they are important. People like to be respected and be proud of themselves. Be polite to people and also treat them in a respectable manner. 17. ADMIRATION: When you show that you like or respect someone. When you tell someone you like what they did. Show that you really admire something that someone did. 18. APPRECIATION: When you let someone know that they are worthy and good. When you show that what they have done or what they do is valuable.

7 19. FRIENDLINESS: When you act or be someone s friend. Be helpful and supportive of them as you would want a friend to be to you. Or be friendly to someone whether you know them or not. Give them a hand with a smile. 20. LOVE: When you show someone you honestly like them and like to be with them. (This can be a family member or friend) You can show a feeling of brotherhood and goodwill to someone. 21. INTEGRITY: When you do the right thing no matter what pressure there may be to do the opposite. Stick with your beliefs and be honest and sincere with anyone you deal with.

More Thinking Matters Too Understanding My Life Patterns

More Thinking Matters Too Understanding My Life Patterns Self Assessment From time to time I answer the questions below. I don t think long before I answer each one. I try to be quick and honest with myself. I think about the people I interact with the most