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10 Hallmarks of an Honorable Person
Some people feel that honor and integrity are important. Others don’t. So they rationalize, thinking “I’m under pressure to perform,” “The rewards are worth it,” or “It’ll only be this time” to justify their behavior. Folks who take what they don’t deserve, mistreat people, or cheat to get what they want are only hurting themselves. Do you possess the hallmarks of an honorable person? You be the judge.
It takes a conscious and concerted effort to be a person of integrity. Here are 10 hallmarks of an honorable person — with suggestions to help you stay on course:
Parenting. Be actively involved in your children’s lives, expose them to activities that reinforce good values, and look for teachable moments.
Influencers. Top-notch people have strong moral character, live a virtuous life, and bring out the best in you. Do your friends and colleagues bring out the best — or the worst — in you?
Role models. Role models represent the epitome of excellence. They raise your game by demonstrating behavior for you to emulate. Choose your role models wisely.
Culture. The music you hear, the movies you watch, and the video games you play affect your mindset and seep into your subconscious. Watch what you eat and how you feed your mind.
Education. There’s only one investment that will never go down — an investment in yourself. Embrace the value of continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
Personal growth. Developing your mind and your talents shouldn’t be limited to formal schooling or work experience; you can gain just as much from playing a sport or learning to play a musical instrument. Performing the activity well isn’t what counts — it’s the know-how gained from the encounter.
Positive reinforcement. Living for a cause greater than yourself is a worthy mission. This goal can be reinforced by attending a house of worship, volunteering within your local community, joining a values-based organization, or being a mentor.
Personal accountability. Make good choices. You have the freedom to choose, but you’re not free from the consequences of those choices.
Mindset. Some people feel powerless or blame scapegoats for setbacks. They believe they can’t affect their personal situation — so they stop trying. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?
Self-examination. Make time to do some soul searching.
The real prize for living with integrity is making yourself proud. You can take great pride in knowing that you held yourself to a high standard and never compromised your ideals. You didn’t choose the easy route, but you preferred the honorable way. You fought hard to attain your dreams, but you did so with dignity and grace. In so doing, you brought honor to your family, you earned respect from your friends, and most importantly, you did yourself proud. Bravo!
This post was adapted from The Path to a Meaningful Life by Frank Sonnenberg
Do You Possess the Hallmarks of An Honorable Person?
Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.
Additional Reading:
15 Ways to Pass Your Values On to Your Kids
Why Do You Trust Some People and Mistrust Others?
Moral Character Matters
Live With Honor and Integrity
Reputation: You Can’t Run from Your Shadow
13 Ways To Be a Good Role Model
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This what just what I needed at the end of a thought-provoking week. It was a welcome reminder that what I surround myself with, including music, activities, people, and energy, significantly impacts my mental and physical health. To be there for others in the way I want, I must be there for myself authentically. Thank you for the gentle nudge!
Thanks.
Some folks claim they’re so busy, they don’t have time to focus on the important things in life. I’m glad you took the time to hit the pause button 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
“Blame scapegoats” seems to be the default mindset for the 2020’s
How much do you think social media keeps people accountable for everything they have ever done?
You make two valuable points Jonathan —
First, it often baffles me what people say on social media. One of the best ways to destroy your reputation or disqualify yourself from a job opportunity is to demonstrate poor judgment. As the saying goes, “You can’t unring a bell.”
Second, personal responsibility needn’t be a burden. It’s a blessing to own your life. That said, you have the freedom to choose, but you’re not free from the consequences of those choices. If you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, don’t blame the mirror.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
These are very good values and traits that every great person should have. I pride myself on being a person of integrity and embody many of the things you wrote about in this post. I definitely like your statement, ” You didn’t choose the easy route, but you preferred the honorable way”. This is a lesson I am constantly teaching my kids, getting them to learn the value of working hard and reaping the benefits of it. Thank you for sharing this blog.
You have a wonderful philosophy, A’Keia.
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to raise kids who have strong morals and who will be productive members of society. That includes giving them your unconditional love, being an active part of their lives, shaping their character, inspiring good habits, promoting the importance of education, encouraging personal responsibility, and most of all, being a good role model. It seems like you’ve covered all the bases. Bravo!!!
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Great blog post. I enjoyed reading about the 10 hallmarks of an honorable person. Two of the hallmarks that I am currently working on are: personal accountability and personal growth. It is important for us to take an account of our actions and be responsible for our growth. I feel that these are hallmarks of an honorable person, because the actions help us be the best version of ourselves. Honor comes with self reflection, as well as self-improvement. I also agree that self-examination is paramount. We must always look inside to ensure we approve of what we find. If not, it is up to us to make some changes. Very thought provoking post. Thanks!
You have a wonderful philosophy, Brittany. It will serve you very well in life.
Best,
Frank