Six Pillars of Character

Are you instilling the six pillars of character into your children? As children mature, they will need these character traits in order to be successful in business and in their relationships. In fact, if everyone lived by these qualities, most of society's ills would simply vanish. Make sure teaching these personal values is high on your list of priorities as a parent.

Trustworthiness. Good, old-fashioned honesty is a good place to begin. A person of character can be trusted; he can trust others, and he can trust himself. Friends, family members and even strangers know he uses one set of scales and he means what he says. We don't have to watch the news very long to realize how lacking this character trait is - in all strata of society. Trustworthiness is a bottom-line key to good relationships, good marriages, and in a good work ethic.

Respect. Treating others like you would want to be treated is called the golden rule for good reason. It is a character trait that is essential in all areas of society. If people simply respected each other, there would be no more wars, robberies, crime, bullying, or hurting each other. Children must be taught respect - both for themselves and for others.

Responsibility. This means they learn to own up to their mistakes and not blame them on someone else. It also involves putting work before pleasure and having the self-discipline to delay gratification in all areas of life. Children learn this, in part, by having chores and other tasks assigned to them at home. I blame much of society's troubles today on men who have children but do not bother to take the responsibility that comes with being their dad.

Fairness. This deals with treating everyone equally, no matter how different people are, and whether or not they can help you in return. Fairness will help children in their friendships now and working relationships later. Unfortunately, we live in a world where not everyone is treated fairly. Some are given special leniency or favors based on who they are, who their parents are, or to what particular ethnic group they belong. Good character has no room for prejudice or unfairness.

Caring. I think we often confuse this trait with feelings of fondness. But true caring is not about how we feel, but how we act. Caring for others involves having empathy, which allows us to see the situation in the eyes of others - to walk in someone else's shoes. Others have feelings, too, and caring means that matters to us.

Citizenship. A lot of the other traits are wrapped in this one, but it is good character to want to make the world a better place, not leave it worse because you came through. Some of parents in my neighborhood are not teaching their children good citizenship. I say this because of all the trash that litters the streets and roads in my corner of the world. It scares me that some people have such little regard for their own community. If we don't take care of our world, who will?

How do we teach these character traits? Most values are caught, not taught, so children need to see their parents demonstrating them. We may be in trouble if we are counting on the media to teach these traits, but for better or for worse, kids' chief influence is their parents. They are watching how we react to challenges and triumphs. They know how we treat each other and how we treat them. Are you instilling these pillars of character in your children?

You can contact Craig Harris at www.apparentlyso.net.