Do you know what virtue means and how having it in your life leads to happiness?
Virtue is actually essential for happiness, because virtues give us the power to have control over ourselves. It helps you seek the things that you know will truly make you happy.
You are better able to make great decisions when you have it.
First, what does virtue mean?
“The modern definition of a virtue, is a quality or behavior that shows high moral standards. Having moral virtue means that you aim incredibly high. People who exemplify virtue are typically unselfish, hardworking, honest, kind, and benevolent towards all people they interact with.
There is a lot of inherent power behind being a person of virtue and integrity. When you exhibit a lot of goodness in your life, you will typically be appreciated, loved, and respected.
People who display natural virtue in their lives are often much more trusted and valued than those who don’t. Increasing your personal quality of goodness is a fantastic way to create healthy connections with people.
Another way that it is often used, is as a word that describes values and ideas that are found within a belief system.”
Furthermore, your religion or spiritual beliefs could be a part of this belief system. Just as what you were taught growing up in a family, is part of this belief system.
For example, here are words that can be used to describe a person of virtue:
- Honor
- Rectitude
- Righteousness
- Honesty
- Ethical
- Merit
- Decency
- Upright
- Integrity
Another idea behind this word, is that it would describe people who were upright and genuinely focused on benefitting the world. Through honor and honesty.
Virtue is something that is still highly valued in the world today by some.
Hard work has been valued in the world, because it is the basis on which a lot of success is built.
One of the best ways to become a person of integrity and virtue is by being a good communicator. Listen and truly care about others.
The virtuous person, Buddha taught, is the compassionate person.
Because, compassion is what brings happiness to the world. Happiness comes when your thoughts, work, and speech are harmonized and filtered through a prism of virtuous behavior.
So, virtue is necessary to live a life of well-being and happiness.
Finally, virtues help shape our aspirations for what type of person we want to be.
What do you think?
Above all, in my title of this article, I say, “The pursuit of life in virtue, leads to happiness”.
Pursuing to me means, to keep at it. Keep doing the best you can. Keep moving toward happiness by living a life of integrity and virtue.
Can you see how all of this fits so well together? And how happiness is natural as you live a life as described here?
Aristotle writes, “He is happy who lives in accordance with complete virtue and is sufficiently equipped with external goods, not for some chance period but throughout a complete life.”
“Developing a good character requires a strong effort of will to do the right thing, even in difficult situations.”
In conclusion, my hopes are you will begin to pay attention, in each instance, if you are living from integrity and virtue.
It is about loving yourself and then making choices each day, that are in alignment with everything I’m sharing here.
All the best,
Connie
PS. The lines in quotation above came from this helpful article:
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