‘Love’ is an Active Noun

“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like ‘struggle.’  To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.” – Mister Rogers

The Good Old Days

Can you imagine how stupid and unhappy people must have been before smart phone and tablets?

Loved, Not Judged

People need to be loved, not judged. Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place. – Amish Proverb   Be generous. Don’t ask whether a person in need deserves your help or if he will use it wisely. Charity is not an investment its an act of caring.

Can You Commit?

If you are committed to being happy, nothing can stop you.

Pretty vs. Beauty

“Pretty isn’t beauty. Pretty is how you look; Beauty is who you are. Pretty is in the face and body; Beauty is in the heart, mind and soul. Pretty fades; Beauty grows.” – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY 978.1: The Wisdom of Dr. Seuss

Observing the recent birthday of Dr. Seuss caused me to reflect on some of the profound lessons this modern-day philosopher taught with his exotically imaginative stories. For example, whether I’m looking at my clock, my calendar, or observing how quickly my children change, he captures the surprise and wistful sadness I often feel: “How did it get so late so …

Be the Best Version of Yourself

BE HONEST – even when others aren’t and it may cost you more than you want to pay KEEP YOUR PROMISES – even when it’s costly or inconvenient TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT – even if they don’t deserve it. FULFILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES – even if you could dodge them. DO WHAT’S RIGHT – even if you have a right to …

EXPERIENCE the Feeling

“Gratitude is not a statement, it’s a feeling. It’s so easy to say I am grateful that I don’t often stop to really, really experience gratitude. Saying the words doesn’t mean a thing without the feeling and it takes a moment of genuine reflection to summon that feeling. Don’t shortchange yourself with hollow words…EXPERIENCE THE FEELING.” – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY 977.5: Things Are Just Things

Years ago, a listener told me her mom died leaving only a general will and a house full of personal items with sentimental and, in some cases, significant financial value. My listener said tensions were building among her and her two sisters as they approached the problem of allocating their mom’s stuff. Each sister had different and conflicting expectations. The …

Limits

“What you allow, you encourage. There are no limits unless you set them, and if there are no limits, there’s no respect.” – Michael Josephson

Compliance is doing what

WHY COMPLIANCE IS MORE AND BETTER THAN ETHICS PROGRAMS. 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 expected …

Lasting Gifts to Our Children

“There are two lasting things we can give our children: one is roots the other is wings” – Hodding Carter Jr.

What It Is…and What It’s Not

“It’s not what you think; IT’S WHAT YOU DO. It’s not who you know; IT’S WHAT YOU KNOW. It’s not who you were; IT’S WHO YOU ARE. It’s not where you’re from; IT’S WHERE YOU’RE GOING. It’s not what you want; IT’S WHAT YOU WORK FOR.” – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY 977.3: Changing Lives Through Love

Imagine being put in charge of a residential camp for delinquent teenage girls confined because they are considered dangerous. Many have serious mental health issues, impulse control problems, and an awful lot of anger. One of the last terms you’d apply to any of these girls is lovable. So when Pauline Starks and her colleague Gerry Davis (both with more …

Kids Like to Win; Adults Need to Win

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, you have to acknowledge the powerful cultural influence that sports have on our culture. The values of millions of participants and spectators are shaped by the values conveyed in sports, including our views of what is permissible and proper in the competitive pursuit of personal goals. Professional sports and even highly competitive intercollegiate …

No Storm Lasts Forever

“Okay, maybe today sucks. It’s unfair and it’s wrong. But things will get better. No storm lasts forever. So, you need to be strong.” – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY 977.2: Tell Someone They’re Valued

The students at Sandy’s high school were badly shaken by the news that a classmate had killed himself. The suicide note said, “It’s hard to live when nobody cares if you die.” Glen, a teacher, realized this was a teachable moment about the importance of making people feel valued. He asked the class to imagine they were about to die …

“IT’S NOT EASY.”

“IT’S NOT EASY.” – Michael Josephson 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 premises. It’s not easy to stand up for our beliefs and still respect differing viewpoints. It’s not easy …

I Received Nothing I Wanted…

“I asked for strength and I got wind and rain to make me strong. I asked for calm seas and I got storms to give me confidence. I asked for security and I got fears to face to give me courage. I asked to be taken care of and I got challenges to make me self-reliant. I asked for success …

To Thine Own Self Be True

“To Thine Own Self Be True.” — William Shakespeare “Don’t waste time living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” — Steve Jobs

COMMENTARY:The Nature and Importance of Integrity

“Sometimes the dues we pay to maintain integrity are pretty high, but the ultimate cost of moral Compromise is much higher.” – Michael Josephson Integrity is often used as a synonym for honesty or even honor but it means much more. The concept of integrity is wholeness, (hence when something is disintegrated it is literally torn apart and disappears). In …

Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos in order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” …

Why Ethics is More and Better Than Compliance by Michael Josephson

Most corporate compliance programs consist of cursory, general and uninspiring training, a place to ask questions and a staff to monitor adherence to laws. These programs are important to assure that employees have knowledge of the laws so they don’t carelessly or inadvertently break them, but they almost never deal effectively with intentional violations committed either for what is thought …

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 expected to ask what is …

Put YOURSELF In Their Place

People need to be loved, not judged. Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place. – Amish Proverb

Five Things to Teach Your Children

1. Be a good friend. 2. Be kind even to those who don’t deserve it. 3. Learn from every experience. 4. Do your share even when others aren’t doing theirs. 5. Start and finish a job even when you don’t feel like it.” – Michael Josephson

COMMENTARY 976.5: The True Meaning of Our Lives

I saw a cartoon showing an old king checking in at the gates of heaven. He introduced himself as “Edward The Good.” The gatekeeper with a large book in front of him said, “Well, Eddie, we’ll be the judge of that.” The point is that, in the end, generous self-appraisals won’t matter. Our epitaphs will be written and eulogies delivered …