Taking Pride in Doing the Right Thing

In the short run, a team, organization, or other entity can lie, cheat, and manipulate its way to a competitive advantage. 

But in the LONG run, the marketplace inevitably discovers liars, cheaters, and manipulators over time, and punishes them commensurately to their crimes—not necessarily in a court of law, but certainly in the court of public opinion and the buyer's guild. 

As such, it makes sense to develop an organizational culture up front that values doing the right thing early and always. And it is in the interest of everyone in the organization to take positive pride in consistently following that pathway.

What does it mean to do the right thing? 

The answer to this question will almost certainly depend on who you ask. And in truth, the right thing or action will sometimes legitimately differ from person-to-person and from situation-to-situation based on reasonably differing preferences and priorities. Thus, "situational ethics" does have a place in the overall calculus of moral reasoning. As such, there are often "exceptions to the rule" (see SAL Theory Corollary 1.3). 

However, without the aid of conscience and the guide of certain moral absolutes serving as immovable loadstars in moral matters, "situational ethics" can quickly become a slippery slope wending a person or organization down into the throes of moral entropy, organizational atrophy, and even financial failure.

So how does a person or organization balance the paradoxical (seemingly conflicting) reality and importance of both moral absolutes and situational ethics in one's life and career. That is a tricky question and is not always easy to answer. Nevertheless, Freedom Focused offers some core insights aimed at assisting any honest seeker of truth in the matter. 

"Do what is right, let the consequence follow" (-Anon)

Truth seekers quest after TRUE PRINCIPLES rooted in natural (or Universal) laws because they serve as general guides to right thinking, speaking, and doing. 

At Freedom Focused, we define true principles as: 

"Principles of personal conduct rooted in Universal Laws that lead to long-term happiness, fulfillment, inner peace, and Existential Growth."

Universal Laws, in-turn, are defined as:

"Natural laws that define reality and govern all naturally occurring forces throughout the universe (physical laws), as well as all long-term consequences of individual and organizational decisions (metaphysical laws)."

True principles help us determine what right actions are. They lead us to think, say, and do things that are RIGHT, while false principle lead us to say and do things that are WRONG. But what is the definition of "Right" and "wrong"?

Freedom Focused can help us in this regard as well, as follows:

RIGHT: Thoughts, speech, and actions that result in positive and constructive long-term consequences for self and others.  

WRONG: Thoughts, speech, and actions that result in negative and destructive long-term consequences for self and others.

The KEY phrase in both of these definitions is, of course, "Long-Term."

At Freedom Focused, our agents take PRIDE in consistently doing the RIGHT things. And when we do something that is wrong (either individually or collectively) which we all do from time-to-time, we take action to remedy and rectify any negative consequences of our speech or actions and then immediately change course. Those are our social mores and corporate culture.  

PRIDE is an interesting word.

Positive Pride in Achievement

It can connote both positive and negative states of being or feeling. For example, a positive element of pride would involve feelings of joy and personal satisfaction at having given one's best effort or achieved something of significance, like graduating from college or landing one's first big job. Another example might involve PRIDE IN DOING THE RIGHT THING as mentioned above.  

Pride can also have a negative connotation, as when a person pridefully rejects sound reason, good advice, or warning signs by proceeding to speak or act in ways that harm oneself or others.

Why do we as human beings exhibit negative pride when the results of doing so inevitably prove injurious? Probably the biggest reason is because we don't want to admit that we are misguided, naïve, or wrong. But what is so bad about admitting that we were misguided, naïve, or wrong... if we actually are?

Why does our pride sometimes get so caught up in being (seeming) right instead of figuring out what actually is right? Especially when pride can lead us down into disaster, destruction, and despair while humility can lead us to the promised land of whatever we are endeavoring to achieve? 

I have learned from personal experience that if I am, in fact, wrong about something, it is infinitely easier to just admit to myself (and where necessary, others) this fact and then change course than it is to continue to pridefully pursue a flawed course and thereby have to endure the retinue of rueful regrets and consequences concomitant thereto.

It's worth noting here that my personal self-action leadership journey has been FULL of occasions when I was misguided, naïve, or wrong. In fact, there have been so many such times throughout my life and career that I can't even remember—much less count—them all! And I still have moments like that—and will until the day I die—a fact which helps keep me humble and reliant on the wise counsel, good advice, and sound direction of others' whose perspectives transcend my own in a given area or on a certain matter.     

It takes courage to admit you were wrong,
and then reach out to someone else for help.

I admit it isn't always easy to admit I am wrong about something. But in my personal view, it's sooooooooooo much harder to endure the consequences of not doing so! If I am pursuing a flawed course—and I know it—what's the point in continuing on other than to feed the fire of my own ego? Where is the pride in avoiding all the disastrous consequences of being arrogantly prideful? 

Why not take more pride in doing the right (and smart) thing instead of holding on desperately to some negative form of selfish pride simply for ego's sake? Why not courageously confront a moment or two of agonizing difficulty involved in admitting you were wrong, get it over with quickly, and then move on with the baggage behind you?

Those who courageously follow this pathway will discover that such moments aren't as bad as they thought they would be—and once it's over, you can move forward to a better, happier, and more confident and successful existence. In the end, this course offers a far bigger reward than its up-front price—however difficult that price may seem to be (or feel like) in the moment.       

If I am smart, I will candidly and courageously confess whenever I am in error and then immediately begin to pursue the correct course. But in order to accomplish that sometimes difficult feat, I must exercise HUMILITY. And as we all know, it's not always easy to be humble.  

What exactly is HUMILITY?  

At Freedom Focused, we define it as: "The ability to accurately see and graciously acknowledge the way things really are based on physical and metaphysical realities rooted in Universal Laws."

That's a mouthful; but in essence, humility means doing the RIGHT thing whenever we see and recognize TRUTH, whether we feel like it or not. That is not an easy thing to do! As a result, nobody is perfectly humble. I certainly am not! But we can always keep trying to see things more clearly—as they really are (instead of the way we wish they were)—and for those who do, the rewards of humility are immense over time. Moreover, the seeming rewards of holding on to one's pride amount to a pathetic pittance by comparison.    

At Freedom Focused, we take pride in doing the right thing. We recognize that however justified a person may feel in one's prideful feelings, it is unwise to speak or act pridefully. Why? Because in the long run, it is YOU that is inevitably hurt the most by your own pride. Thus, self-action leaders recognize that reality and facts must often trump their feelings, no matter how powerful or important one's feelings may be. In other words, self-action leaders discern the great truth that feelings are often momentary, fleeting, and impulsive; but True Principles and Universal Laws are immovable, irrevocable, and incontrovertible. Thus, they allow principles and laws to become their guiding North Star, rather than their emotions alone.  

The most successful organizations
effectively balance sound laws
with intentional & helpful mores

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

— Proverbs 

If you absolutely insist on being prideful, try to be prideful about one thing and one thing alone... Take Pride in Doing the Right Thing! 

When a team or organization creates a culture that takes pride in doing the right thing, it actually becomes culturally shameful to do the wrong thing. And organizational or cultural mores that embrace consistently doing the right thing will prove more powerful and supportive than any formal rule, regulation, or punitive measure invoked by an authority figure. In the words of Èmile Durkheim, a French sociologist: "When mores are sufficient, laws are unnecessary; [but], when mores are insufficient, laws are unenforceable."

"When mores are sufficient, laws are unnecessary;

[but], when mores are insufficient, laws are unenforceable."

— Èmile Durkheim 

Wise leaders and managers spend most of their time and energy seeking to model and teach mores that value, reinforce, and reward TAKING PRIDE IN DOING THE RIGHT THING while discouraging and, when necessary, disciplining speech and behavior that embraces negative elements of pride. Creating such mores can prove time- and labor-intensive. But those who persist and succeed enjoy massive success and enormous satisfaction in their work in the long-run.

Be like Coach John Wooden...
Take Pride in Doing the Right Thing

Such leaders become like legendary basketball coach, John Wooden—a true champion and person of sterling character and unimpeachable integrity—who won an unprecedented and mind-blowing TEN (10) National Championships as the Head Coach of UCLA's men's basketball team in the 1960s and 70s. And if you'd like to tap more fully into the wisdom of Coach Wooden, he wrote several books in retirement; you can find them at bookstores everywhere.      

What are you doing TODAY to teach and model TAKING PRIDE IN DOING THE RIGHT THING in your own relationships, family, team, organization, community, or nation? 

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to learn more about Freedom Focused

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan Jensen

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

  

Postmodernists vs. Authenticists: An Existential Comparison

Six Intelligences
of Existentialism

In past articles, I have written a fair bit about postmodernism—and the AGE of AUTHENTICISM that is beginning to gradually eclipse it.  The purpose of this piece is to capture the deep chasm that exists between the THOUGHTS and BEHAVIORS of acolytes of these two strikingly different ages and ideologies, which, to varying degrees, have been battling each other in cyclical fashion throughout human history.

I will compare and contrast these differences by descriptively measuring them against SIX components of the Self-Action Leadership Theory of Existential Intelligence.  These six components are: Mental intelligence, Physical intelligence, Spiritual intelligence, Emotional intelligence, Social intelligence, & Moral intelligence.

In reviewing this article, keep in mind that no human being is all postmodernist or all authenticist.  Nearly all authenticists have postmodern proclivities of one form or another, and nearly all postmodernists possess redeeming qualities.  Nevertheless, it is true that generally speaking, every individual is always either heading in one direction or the other.  Thus, in the end, you cannot ultimately find yourself in both camps; you do choose one or the other, and more specifically, one of nine gradients of one side or the other.  (Note: there are nine different levels of Existential Growth and Existential Atrophy.  Authenticist ideology leads one to higher levels of the former - EG. Postmodernist ideology leads one to lower levels of the latter - EA. )

Cognitive Differences  

The Mental Component

A postmodernist believes there isn't any absolute truth and that all "so-called truth" is dynamic and relative to each person's unique life experience. In other words, "truth" (lower-cased) can be flexibly bent to the whimsical exigencies of individual human beings and the perplexing quagmires into which they often entangle themselves as a result of their own choices. To a postmodernist, consequences, along with truth and metaphysical natural laws, are also arbitrary rather than absolute.

In essence, postmodernists seek to become a law unto themselves rather than adhere to, or even admit that any real natural laws governing human behavior may exist outside of or beyond themselves.

An authenticist recognizes that "Truth" (upper-cased) is not only absolute in nature, but that it exists outside of any human wish or inclination. To an authenticist, truth never changes, nor can it be altered. Human beings either choose to seek it out and heed it, or to disregard its tenets and caveats—with relatively predictable long-term consequences following the freely chosen thoughts and behavior of each individual. Authenticists seek to learn about natural laws and then dedicate themselves to living in harmony therewith.

Behavioral Differences  

The Physical (or Behavioral) Component

Postmodernists are fundamentally REACTIVE.

When things go wrong in a postmodernist's life, he or she looks outward for someone or something to scapegoat for his or her problems or misfortune. Postmodernists are fundamentally part of the problem(s) rather than part of the solution(s).

Authenticists are fundamentally PROACTIVE.

When things go wrong in an authenticist's life, he or she looks inward and asks the following questions: 1). How am I contributing to this problem, or how am I a part of the problem? 2). What can I personally do to solve this problem or improve this situation? and 3). In what way(s) do I need to change my thoughts and behavior or purify my character to improve the problem or situation long-term? Authenticists are fundamentally part of the solution(s) rather than part of the problem(s).

Theosophical Differences 

The Spiritual Component

Postmodernists typically don't believe in a Higher Power, or if they do, their belief is one of convenience and caprice. The very concept of faith in what one cannot see or sentiently detect is anathema to a postmodernist because it spoils the notion that the postmodernist him or herself is on top of the universal existential food chain.

Even worse, the acceptance of a Higher Power would create spiritual accountability for one's thoughts and behaviors, something postmodernists are loathe to consider, much less acknowledge. They don't always seek after darkness in an explicit sense; it is just that their pride and vanity won't allow them to make room in their own world for any God that would outrank or otherwise interfere their own self-perceived demigod status. Postmodernists also discount the notion that there is life after death. Doing so makes it much easier to rationalize a whole host of destructive and damning inclinations, behaviors, and lifestyle as being okay—or even good.

Authenticists almost always believe in some form of Higher Power, although their specific spiritual or theological beliefs differ widely. Such faith engenders humility regarding the lowliness of their own existential station, and their reliance on Higher forms of being to access the knowledge and power to to advance existentially themselves. Most importantly, such faith illuminates the existential duty one has to seek after truth and to choose right and good actions over wrong and evil ones to the best of one ability—all while continually seeking after the empowering aid of unseen forces of light along the way.

The Emotional Component

Emotional Differences  

While postmodernists usually don't believe in a Higher Power, this does not mean they do not have strong, spiritually-oriented feelings. Quite to the contrary, a postmodernist may experience spiritual-esque feelings as potently and powerfully as any authenticist. The difference between the two is not necessarily that one feels more strongly than the other. The difference lies in the thoughts and behaviors a postmodernist chooses as a result of the feelings he or she has experienced. 

An authenticist feels strongly about the reality of absolute truth and aligning one's thoughts and behavior in harmony therewith.

A postmodernist feels strongly about whatever one feels strongly about in the present moment. He or she focuses on aligning his or her thoughts and behaviors with augmenting the emotion as well as embracing whatever "itch" one feels most inclined to "scratch" at any given point in his or her life, without giving much thought to the long-term consequences.

The Social Component

Relational Differences  

Postmodernists view relationships mainly as a means to an end. The quality, therefore, of a relationship for a postmodernist is judged by what one personally gets from the relationship. As a result, postmodernists usually choose to cultivate fleeting, short-term, and sentient or sexual-based relationships rather than investing the time, effort, and sacrifice required to obtain deep, enriching, long-term relationships that fulfill the deepest needs human beings have for authentic interpersonal connectedness.

Authenticists, on the other hand, view relationships—and the quality thereof—as an end in and of themselves. For an authenticist, one's primary role in a relationship involves what he or she can give to the other person, how one can personally nurture the relationship, and how one can promote Existential Growth in the other. By secondarily prioritizing one's personal pleasure or external rewards in relationships, authenticists paradoxically magnify and intensify the same, making both parties truly rich (both internally and externally) in the relationship.

The Moral Component

Ethical Differences  

To a postmodernist, ethical concerns are arbitrary and relative. This does not mean postmodernists are casual or indifferent about ethical concerns. To the contrary, postmodernists are sometimes the most impassioned and vocal about issues surrounding ethics. The problem is the standard by which ethical issues are judged to be issues of concern. Rather than being rooted in natural law, such standards are invariably constructed by postmodernist themselves. There is no absolute standard upon which to base ethicality beyond the pronouncements of postmodern potentates. Thus many ethical issues in postmodernism revolve around ideological pet projects rooted in the mercurial whimsy of mankind's baser instincts and more prurient proclivities.

To an authenticist, ethical concerns are absolute and irrevocable. This view does not negate the possibility of "exceptions to the rule" in situations of ethicality, for authenticists understand the great truth that truth itself is often paradoxical. What it does mean is that ALL thoughts and behavior (including any exceptions to the rule) must align with absolute truth if one's cognitions and actions are to qualify as being ethical and moral.

The Existential Component

Ontological Differences  

Postmodernists who persist in postmodernist ideology are easy to spot over time, and reside in two basic camps.

The first camp, which is by far the largest, includes the vast multitudes of individuals who grow old physically having never advanced beyond the EDUCATION (first), BEGINNER'S (second), or PRACTITIONER'S (third) stage of Existential Growth. This camp also includes those who may have advanced to higher levels, but then digressed backwards to one of the lower three levels over time.

The second camp includes postmodernists who are extra talented or clever who descended to the lower levels of the DARK SHADOW. Such descents are widely noticed, admired, and heralded by multitudes of their fellow postmodernists along their descent to the bottom-most rungs of the DARK SHADOW. After descending to such depths, they may experience much fame and adulation from other postmodernists, and even many immature or naive authenticists who confuse their worldly achievements as being indicators of Existential Growth and maturity.

Postmodernists in this camp often enjoy much financial remuneration and prosperity. Sometimes this remuneration is earned quasi-honestly be means of their talent and cleverness. Often it is earned quite dishonestly by means of seduction, manipulation, and downright deceit. Despite the seeming success and grandeur achieved by these individuals, the passage of time always leads to an infamous and ignominious legacy—and sometimes to physical ruin as well.

Authenticists who persist in the authentic living described in my book—Self-Action Leadership—are easy to spot because they are continually growing up—not literally so much as figuratively, in an existential sense. In other words, they are perpetually progressing to higher levels of Existential Growth as defined in the Self-Action Leadership Theory.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.

Authenticism pursued to its end results in SELF-TRANSCENDENCE (level 8) followed by one's entering the CREATION STAGE (level 9), which marks the beginning of world altering contributions and a legacy that lives on positively, constructively, and indefinitely.

To sum up, and put very bluntly, postmodernism—and the postmodern potentates and populace that supports and promotes it—is/are the problem in our world today.

On the other hand, authenticism—and the authentic and humble practitioner's and parishes that undergird and enliven it—is/are the solution in our world today.

We at Freedom Focused invite you to join us in bringing about an end to the postmodern period and replace it with an AGE of AUTHENTICISM.  By so doing, you can start the process of becoming part of the solution(s) our world needs, rather than contributing to the problem(s) that presently engulf much of our post-postmodern world.

Click HERE to read more about the AGE of AUTHENTICISM

Click HERE to learn more about Postmodernism

........................................................................................................................................................

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP is the key catalyst for initiating transformational leadership that lasts in any organization. The truth of the matter really is that simple; and the transformation of organizations through the holistic development of individuals really is that difficult—yet altogether possible for anyone willing to invest the time, effort, and sacrifice required to achieve authentic, transformational results.

Unlike any training program that has ever preceded it, Self-Action Leadership provides a single vehicle wherewith individual self-leaders can discover—and then act—upon the great truth that HOLISTIC personal development and growth spanning the mental, moral, spiritual, physical, emotional, and social elements of our individual natures is within the grasp of each one of us.

Note: Freedom Focused is a non-partisan, for-profit, educational corporation. As such, we do not endorse or embrace political figures. We do, however, comment from time-to-time on historical or political events that provide pedagogical backdrops to illuminating principles contained in the SAL Theory & Model.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.


To receive weekly articles from Freedom Focused & Dr. Jordan R. Jensen, sign up with your e-mail address in the white box on the right side of this page where it says "Follow by E-mail."


Click HERE to buy a copy of Dr. Jordan Jensen's new book, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.


Click HERE to read more about Dr. Jensen's book, Self-Action Leadership, and to review what experts in the leadership field are saying about this groundbreaking new personal development handbook.


Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan R. Jensen. Click HERE to visit the Freedom Focused website.

Things that Enslave: Part 3

SHACKLE 5:
ARROGANT PRIDE

Pride has many definitions and connotations; some are positive and some are negative. The pride of personal accomplishments realized through honesty and hard work is a positive thing. My use of the term in this section describes two different forms of pride, both of which are negative.