How Strong Are Your Moral Values?

We spend so much time worrying about our image, and so little time thinking about who we really are. Are you a good person? Are you proud of the way that you live your life? Would you want to be friends with yourself? Would you be happy if your kids followed in your footsteps? In the end, your answers reveal how strong your character truly is.

But how are you viewed by the person you spend the most amount of time with — yourself?

If we spent more time and effort strengthening our moral character, we wouldn’t have to worry about the impression that we’re making. As John Wooden, the legendary college basketball coach, said, “Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

Our strong moral values serve as guiding forces, shaping our decisions and actions, and ultimately defining the essence of our character. Here are 15 ways to determine the depth of your moral convictions:

Do you…

Invest in your future or refuse to make sacrifices?
Confront your fears or surrender to them?
Keep your promises or break your commitments?
Think about others’ needs or make everything all about you?
Accept accountability or sidestep responsibility?
Remain true to your values or bend to peer pressure?
Do what’s right or make exceptions when it’s convenient?
Set high expectations or settle for good?
Accept adversity like a champ or feel sorry for yourself?
Earn your rewards or feel entitled to them?
Work to make things better or grumble about how things are?
Appreciate what you have or continually hunger for more?
Surround yourself with exceptional role models or hang out with negative influencers?
Define acceptable standards of behavior for yourself or allow others to set them for you?
Listen to your conscience or fall victim to temptation?