What is honour?
Honour is an intangible quality that cannot be measured, but it is one of the most important human characteristics. It is about having a set of values and standards that you live by no matter the situation, about being true to yourself and your beliefs, even when it would be easier to do otherwise.
Honour is something we all aspire to, but achieving it can be challenging. It takes work to define how to live an honourable life. It requires strength of character and a willingness to do what is right, even when it is difficult – those who have honour are respected by others, and they respect themselves. They are trustworthy and reliable and can be counted on to do the right thing.
What does it mean to live an honourable life?
Living an honourable life is living according to a set of principles and values. It is about being true to yourself and your beliefs, even when it would be easier to do otherwise, and about doing what is right, even when it is difficult. Finally, it is about having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even when it is unpopular or goes against the grain.
The goal of an honourable life is not perfection but rather honesty. It means being honest about your wrongs and doing whatever you can to make it up, even if that’s admitting when things go awry or saying sorry for something beyond human control.
Honour is a rare find in today’s society. But, in an era where we are often driven by self-interest and greed, those with honour stand out as people of integrity. You can always depend on them for doing what needs to be done no matter how difficult it may seem at first glance – this type of person inspires others around them too!
Five steps to living an honourable life
Be honest: Integrity is key to living an honourable life. This means being truthful and transparent in all aspects of your life, from personal relationships to professional achievements.
Do what is right: Always try to do what is right, even when it may be difficult – this might mean standing up for what you believe in, even when it is not an easy option.
Respect yourself and others: A crucial part of living an honourable life is respecting yourself and others around you, being reliable and trustworthy, and always behaving in a way that shows you care about others.
Aspire to greatness: Always try to better yourself and those around you. Aspiring to greatness means not only working hard to achieve your own goals but also helping others reach their potential.
Be humble: Though it is important to aspire to greatness, it is also important to be humble. This means being aware of your own limitations and being modest in your successes.
The pitfalls of not living an honourable life
Just as there are many positive reasons to adopt an honourable lifestyle, there are many pitfalls of not doing so. These include:
A loss of respect from others: If you do not live an honourable life, you may find that people may not trust you or depend on you, as they know you are unreliable.
A loss of self-respect: The feeling of worthlessness that can come with failing to live up to our own standards is a sad reality. Allowing ourselves to fall short may lead us down an unfortunate path where respect for ourselves rapidly dwindles away.
Isolation: If you do not live an honourable life, you will find it challenging to connect with others who do, which can lead to feelings of loneliness.
A life of regret: If you do not live an honourable life, you will likely have many regrets. These regrets can haunt you and prevent you from living a full and happy life.
How to teach your children about honour
One of the best ways to teach your children about honour is to lead by example. Show them what it means to be an honourable person through your own words and actions. Explain to them why it is important always to try to do what is right, even when it might not be the easiest thing to do. Help them to understand the importance of being honest, trustworthy and respectful.
There are lots of books and stories which can teach children about honour. Look for tales which showcase characters behaving in an honourable way, such as standing up for what they believe in or doing what is right even when it is difficult. These stories can help instil important values in your children from an early age.
Teach children to do more than what’s expected. Encourage them to always aim high and work hard to achieve their goals. Help them to understand that being humble in the face of success is just as important as being ambitious.
Appeal to the child’s conscience. When they make a mistake, talk to them about how their actions have affected others and why they should try and do better next time.
Most importantly, be patient. Children will not always understand or accept everything you say immediately. It may take time for the lessons you teach them about honour to truly sink in.
Final thoughts
An honourable life is a life lived with integrity, respect and ambition. It is a life that seeks to do what is right and values humility and caring for others. Most importantly, it is a life which sets an example for others to follow. There is no better day than today to put yourself on the path to living an honourable life. Your future self will thank you for it.
The Abundance Mentor