There are some things we all say and do, that we know are wrong, but don't say or do, that we know is right. Thinking about things in this light, we can see how vital personal values are, how they are a way to be trustworthy and how they are also a way to make other people trust us.
When we are authentic and transparent we earn people's trust. But it's not easy to be authentic and trustworthy. It's vital to stress the importance of trying. We need to know personal values, that we can practice, otherwise we have no way of knowing how to act in life and even if we know, it may be too late.
The question is: how do we go about learning about personal values? And once we know them, how do we live them? Here are six personal values to consider practicing, that will make us more trustworthy.
Honesty
Honesty is perhaps the most important value to practice. When we are honest, we are more trustworthy. But it is not always an easy task. Being honest is not the same as being perceived as honest by other people. There are several ways to be honest and still remain safe. Here are a few:
Be completely transparent and upfront. No tricks or gimmicks.
Let your actions and words clearly communicate what you want and don't want.
If you are unsure about something, don't assume that you know what the other person is thinking or feeling.
If someone tries to take advantage of you, report them.
Make sure others know who you are and what you will do before you make a commitment to them.
Practice being completely honest, even if it's painful at first. You may surprise yourself.
Kindness
Kindness can make us more trustworthy, but it's also a value that we all possess and should never forget. Being kind is being caring and sharing. It's as simple as that. We share with others without thinking about it and they do the same for us. Kindness is contagious. We should all be kinder people, because that's what kindness is.
There are a few ways we can show kindness:
Do small favors for people frequently, without being asked.
Pay it forward, generously giving a little of what you have to those, who may need it.
Be considerate of those around you.
Compliment others whenever you think they've done a good job.
Choose your words carefully. You never know when a kind word will be more appreciated, than a harsh one.
Be sure to follow through on your kind intentions. That's the only way kindness will work.
Practice being a kind person. It's not just about others and how they view you. It's about you, too. You may be amazed at what you will discover about yourself.
Reliability
Reliability is a quality, that others rely upon. And we should all want to be depended upon if we depend upon anything. We depend upon people and things. We rely upon people and things. That's how we are. But we can show reliability in many ways. Here are a few:
Do what you say you're going to do.
Keep your promises.
Don't disappoint others.
Don't let others down easily.
Be there when you say you'll be there.
Keep your commitments, even if it doesn't benefit you directly.
If you aren't sure what you can do to show reliability, think about how you can improve your relationship with the people you depend upon.
Responsibility
Responsibility is taking action. When we are responsible, we are in control. We can do whatever we set our minds to. When we are in control, we are safe. But being in control also makes us very uncomfortable. Being responsible is a necessary part of life. Responsibility comes with its own set of responsibilities. Here are a few things we must do in order to be responsible:
Take care of your health.
Study hard.
Don't do criminal or immoral things.
Don't hurt people.
Make sure you're good to your family.
Make sure you don't hurt yourself.
Don't live your life irresponsibly.
Consider the long-term consequences of every action.
Respect
Respect is a tricky thing. There are two kinds: earned respect and appreciated respect. The first isn't really worth much, but the second is. We all want the latter, but few of us ever earn it. Here are a few ways we can earn the respect of others:
Do good work.
Give people what they want.
Be nice.
Don't take advantage of people.
Understand that respect isn't always given or easily gained.
The other kind of respect is appreciation. This is the respect, that is given freely and gladly. This is the respect, that a person of worth would be expected to earn. This is the respect, that we all want and few of us ever really gain. Here are a few ways we can gain the respect of others:
Compliment others.
Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Be kind.
We can't demand that people respect us because of who we are, but we can be kind and good people and those are the qualities, that are respected.
Appreciation is the only thing that will ever gain respect. Respect is a mutual thing. It's not something that one can unilaterally force or claim. But appreciation is not a one-way street either. It's something that is freely given and gladly received.
We are all works in progress. None of us are perfect and we all make plenty of mistakes. It's how we recover from those mistakes and how we learn from them, that determines our character.
Transparency
The final value is transparency. When we are transparent, we are open and honest. We don't have secrets. We are our own worst enemies and we don't realize it. We are always trying to hide something, whether it be our feelings, our beliefs, or just information we are keeping to ourselves. But we must become more transparent if we want to be more trustworthy. Here are a few ways we can be more open:
Tell people the truth.
Don't keep anything hidden.
If you are unsure of something, ask.
Make it a point to ask people the important questions.
Be completely honest in your communication.
With these six values in place, we are more likely to be perceived as trustworthy by others. When we are, it gives us a better chance of being happy and successful. We have the power to change the world, but only if we become more like the people we seek to reach.
Thank you for reading.
The importante there is to show who we are to others and make sure that being good will be. 🤗