True friends always forgive each other because their friendship is more important than anything they were upset about. – Michael Josephson Read more of Michael’s thoughts on friendship here: https://whatwillmatter.com/2016/12/the-treasure-of-old-friends/
True happiness may be sought, thought, or caught — but never bought. Read more of Michael Josephson‘s thoughts on happiness here: https://whatwillmatter.com/2017/01/happiness-is-more-than-fun-and-pleasure/
Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. Read more of Michael’s thoughts on setting goals and living the life you want here:https://whatwillmatter.com/2016/09/commentary-a-lifetime-of-setting-and-changing-goals/
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE WORLD Instead of putting people in their place, put yourself in your place. Empathy and understanding is the medicine that will cure what ails all. – Michael Josephson Subscribe to a weekly newsletter featuring articles and quotes of Michael Josephson at www.whatwillmatter.com
FIXING WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS If you have been following the tragic drama of the Larry Nassar abuse of female athletes, particularly gymnasts, you should know as part of a recovery plan, USA Gymnastics has gathered the owners of the most influential gymnastic clubs in Indianapolis to confer with Exec Director. The smartest of them all is Anne Fell Josephson (back row, …
Astonishing how much can be done by people who choose to make the best of a bad hand given them. Resilience, the ability to endure and overcome adversity is vital to perseverance which is vital to achievement and a positive attitude that allows folks who have suffered terrible misfortune to not merely survive but to thrive.
INVOCATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS Though you will not always be appreciated and you will be occasionally maligned, NEVER DOUBT THAT YOU ARE SOCIETY’S INDISPENSABLE GUARDIAN. It is your sacred responsibility and privilege to protect and serve all the men, women and children in your community without expectation of praise or gratitude, to provide order and security, safeguard life and …
“Worry less about being sure others know how you feel and more about what you say and do to make others feel.” – Michael Josephson Subscribe to a weekly newsletter featuring articles and quotes of Michael Josephson at www.whatwillmatter.com
Don’t let others DEFINE YOU Don’t let the past CONFINE YOU Take charge of your life with CONFIDENCE and DETERMINATION And there are no limits on what you can do or be – Michael Josephson Subscribe to a weekly newsletter featuring articles and quotes of Michael Josephson atwww.whatwillmatter.com
When life gives us lemons we can make lemonade (the perfect metaphor for turning misfortune or disappointment into something better) Or squirt the juice into our own or other’s eyes (a metaphor for making things worse). The problems of life we call lemons are not always so simple, but we always have a choice to make things better or worse.
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shorted. Happiness has never decreased by being shared. – Buddha
Ordinary people even weak people can do extraordinary things through temporary courage generated by a situation but the person of character does not need the situation to generate his courage, it is a part of his being and a standard approach to all life’s challenges. — Michael Josephson
Courage in action is often nothing more than the choice to do something that is risky because there is a stronger driving motivation, one that makes the risk less important than the thing sought. It could be noble as with honor, patriotism or the protection of family or it could be anger, a desire for revenge or unbridled ambition. — Michael …
Life is about perspective Two men looked out of prison bars. One saw mud and the other saw stars.
Successful or not, acts of physical courage always bring honor. It is the much smaller forms of valor, standing up for principle at the risk of social disapproval, economic loss or injury to career that require the greatest moral will power. There is little upside to winning and a significant and often lasting downside to losing. — Michael Josephson
Halsey’s Moving Speech at the NYC Women’s March Have you seen this moving poem from singer Halsey, yet? Truly moving. I encourage everyone to take the time to watch it and share with your family and friends. Incredibly strong. I’m woke — if you’re not, wake up! I know my posts on this issue add nothing of weight to the …
BRAVE WOMEN. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s message to dozens of female victims who were molested by official USA Gymnastics doctor during sentencing hearing in Michigan: “You are not broken. You are strong. You are the voice of so many people. … You are not a victim any longer. Do not let it define you. Go out and do great things in …
Hold yourself more accountable. Awkowldege the wounds you’ve inflicted and the mistakes you’ve made and make amends. Make it easier for others to do the same. – Michael Josephson
Selfishness is not a word It’s a sentence
The only force that can sustain true and consistent courage is some form of spiritual belief that values notions like honor, duty, loyalty and integrity above the status, power, money and even security. — Michael Josephson Read Michael’s commentary on Moral Courage here: https://whatwillmatter.com/2016/09/commentary-moral-courage-the-engine-of-integrity-801-4/
WOMEN’S MARCH. Huge diversity of goals but central issue of women’s well being and rights was appropriately dominate. Self-disclosing speeches by Natalie Portman, Scarlet Johansson and Viola Davis were especially insightful and poignant. Try to find and watch on internet. Edina Menzel singing Defying Gravity was moving. It was hard for me to grasp all the ways women and girls …
YOU HOLD THE ANSWERS The key to every puzzle, The solution to to every problem, Is in your head waiting to be found.
Don’t waste your time wishing – Take Action! “Many of us spend half our time wishing for things we could have if we didn’t spend half our timing wishing.” – Alexander Woollcott
If you haven’t got the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over? – John Wooden
Hang On, Pain Ends Pain is unavoidable but it isn’t permanent. The sun will come out tomorrow; it comes out every single day even when we can’t see it. You have the strength you need to get through this. The light at the end of the tunnel is your life; it’s the tunnel that’s temporary. – Michael Josephson
Ethics is bigger than compliance. Compliance is doing what you are required to do; ethics is about doing what you should do. An act is not ethical simply because it’s legal, nor is it proper simply because it’s permissible. In an ethical culture, people are expected to do more than ask what they have a right to do; they are …
Michael Josephson’s NBC4 Interview: “What 2017 Says About America’s Character” As 2017 came to a close, Michael Josephson sat down with NBC4’s Conan Nolan to discuss what the year 2017 demonstrated about the country’s character. Both segments of Michael’s interview (which was a part of the NBC4’s NewsConference segment) are worth watching — especially as we think about how character …
The bigger they are, The harder they fall. Don’t be afraid to take on big challenges!
Don’t even think about giving up or backing down. Just be strong! IT WILL GET BETTER! – Michael Josephson
As 2017 comes to an end, please consider making a donation to the Josephson Institute and CHARACTER COUNTS! end of the year fund raising campaign. Your donation will help us continue our ever-growing mission of teaching ethics and character to the world! It is not enough that we express our gratitude we must experience it. – Michael Josephson
