Most of us want to do good, but it’s easy to say and hard to do. How do we make the right decision with so many competing priorities in our lives? Add stressors (pandemic, anyone?) and it becomes even more difficult.
I struggled with this for years. Learning about moral intelligence changed my life because it provided a framework for making both big and small decisions. Of course, it isn’t necessarily easier: good decisions are often more difficult to make. Oh, and I’m far from perfect! I try, yet continue making mistakes all the time.
The bedrock of moral intelligence is comprised of four elements: integrity, responsibility, forgiveness, and compassion. We do good when our actions are based on these four elements.
We also have values that are important to us. So, what happens when our values contradict one or more of these elements? If we prioritize our personal values over integrity, responsibility, forgiveness, or compassion, we can head down a bad path.
Take loyalty, for instance. I value loyalty and can be loyal to a fault. But if a friend commits a crime, which is more important, my loyalty or my integrity? With strong moral intelligence, I know prioritizing integrity is the right thing to do. Remember, I didn’t say it was easier, just right.
The next time you face a moral dilemma, prioritize integrity, responsibility, forgiveness, and compassion and have more confidence in your decisions. I wish you all the best!
