I had the great pleasure of knowing Michael Josephson, of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the founder of Character Counts before he founded the Institute. It was 1985-86 and he was a professor at Loyola Law School where I was working as the Director of Communications. I have not seen him since, but I follow his work via the two websites frequently as he writes many things that touch me deeply.
Josephson founded the institute in 1987 in honor of his parents and since then, the institute has conducted programs for over 100,000 influential leaders including public officials, school administrators, military and police officers, journalists, senior corporate and nonprofit executives, and judges and lawyers. It continues to offer a variety of consulting services and training courses in business ethics, public administration, policing, character education and sportsmanship.
When cleaning computer files recently, I ran across several of my favorite Josephson writings and this one had written across it, "Share this." So I am. Though this piece is secular, I'm using it to guide my own reflections during Lent.
It’s Not Easy
Let’s be honest. Ethics is not for wimps. It’s not easy being a good person.
It’s not easy to be honest when it might be costly, to play fair when others cheat, or to keep inconvenient promises.
It’s not easy to stand up for our beliefs and still respect differing viewpoints.
It’s not easy to control powerful impulses, to be accountable for our attitudes and actions, to tackle unpleasant tasks, or to sacrifice the now for later.
It’s not easy to bear criticism and learn from it without getting angry, to take advice, and to admit error.
It’s not easy to feel genuine remorse and apologize sincerely or to accept an apology graciously and truly forgive.
It’s not easy to stop feeling like a victim, to resist cynicism, and to make the best of every situation.
It’s not easy to be consistently kind, to think of others first, to judge generously, and to give the benefit of the doubt.
It’s not easy to be grateful or to give without concern for reward or gratitude.
It’s not easy to fail and still keep trying, to learn from failure, to risk failing again, to start over, to lose with grace, or to be glad of another’s success.
It’s not easy to look at ourselves honestly and be accountable, to avoid excuses and rationalizations, or to resist temptations.
No, being a person of character is not easy. That’s why it’s such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement.
