We all want to be better persons than what we are now. We want to be better husbands, friends, workers, fathers, etc. Just look at the numerous self-help books that hit the bookshelves each year. How many people go to self-help seminars and conferences looking for that something that will help them transform their lives for the better?
It is good for all of us to improve ourselves both personally and professionally. Improving our personal lives affects the way we do things, the way we work, the way we deal with others. It does not take superhuman effort to improve oneself. What it needs is the firm decision to do so.
There are four (4) major good habits that serve as foundation for all the other good habits that we like to cultivate in ourselves. These major good habits are known as the “cardinal virtues”. The word Cardinal originates from a Latin word that means “hinge” and virtues is another term for good habits. Thus, cardinal virtues are those good habits which form the basis of all other good habits i.e. all good habits can be classified under these four major habits.
Justice
Justice is defined as giving someone his or her due. It is the habit that prevents us not to cheat or to take a short cut when doing things. On the more practical level, it is doing things so that the other party does not feel that they are being short changed or getting the raw end of the deal. For an employer it is providing a fair and just wage to his employees. It also involves providing a suitable working environment. For the employee this virtue requires that he or she fulfils her professional duties to the best of her ability and not simply doing the work in order to get a pay check. A good rule of thumb is to always think “How would I feel if I was in the other person’s shoes?”
Fortitude
Fortitude is the virtue that enables us to bear difficulties. Cultivating this virtue will help in being able to persevere in the performance of our duties both professional and personal. It is the virtue that lets us push on when the going gets hard; it is the virtue that prevents us from just raising up our arms in desperation and giving up. It is the good habit of letting us continue going against the grain. For example, it requires fortitude to wake up early everyday and go to work, week-in, week-out. To be able to bear the bigger challenges or hardships it is important that we also learn to bear the ‘pinpricks’ of each day e.g. ignoring an annoying bus mate who is always talking loud on his mobile phone or being nice to an obnoxious officemate.
Prudence
This is the virtue that directs us to always do good i.e. avoid evil and do good. This is a simplistic definition but it can serve us. Prudence allows us to consider and choose the most appropriate course of action. This is the virtue that helps us avoid the company of people who we know will probably put us in danger or our marriage in danger. This is also the virtue that helps us make us choose and use the appropriate tools for our work. A virtuous person will always try to do what is good at all times.
Temperance
We can use another word that is easier to understand and that is moderation. The virtue of temperance is the virtue that enables us to use things or consume things in the amount that is required, nothing more, nothing less. For example, someone who lives the virtue of temperance will not have five (5) television sets and five cars (unless he is a collector of cars). Living the virtue of temperance will help us moderate the amount of alcohol we consume when we go out with friends or the amount of food we eat. It allows us to acquire material things in so far that we need them. It is a good habit to have especially nowadays where materialism seems to abound.
Do not expect to live these four (4) virtues well overnight. The acquisition and living of these good habits is a constant struggle. One day we win, another day we lose. The important thing is that the struggle to live them is there everyday.
