Why Being a Gentleman Matters
We all have a sense of right and wrong. What is unknown is whether or not this sense is innate or learned. It is clear that there are universal standards of behavior that transcend cultures and epochs. These universal principles of virtuous behavior are played out in the stories, myths, heroes and legends of cultures across the globe serving to reinforce an idealized standard of conduct. We, as members of the human race, know in our hearts what is right and what is wrong. In our society there are laws designed to ensure that our citizens adhere to a minimum threshold of acceptable behavior towards others consistent with general societal norms of right behavior. If we violate these laws and are caught and convicted we suffer the consequences as determined by society.
But what about those minor infractions against our inner moral compass that do not violate any laws on the books? What about those negative thoughts of ill will towards others? Or how about those short cuts we take and those selfish actions we initiate? What happens when we are guilty of greed, envy, gluttony, lust and those other deadly sins? Only we are truly aware of the thoughts and behaviors we exhibit that violate our inner sense of right and wrong. Therefore there are no real consequences that follow, right?
Well unfortunately the law of cause and effect is always at work. We have been conditioned throughout our lives to have an idealized image of ourselves and how we should behave. Our idealized image is unique to us. It reflects our individual temperament, our distinct strengths and interests and accentuates the qualities with which we resonate, but it also contains the universal virtuous qualities which are common to all human beings. When we fall far short of our idealized version of ourselves we suffer. When we make conscious decisions that lead us away from where we truly want to be, we become discouraged and hopeless. We are off course.
In choosing to act as gentlemen, we define our ideal and we monitor our progress on a daily basis. We chart a new course towards fulfillment and hope. We learn to deal with the obstacles that have tripped us up in the past. We acknowledge our shortcomings and mistakes. We strive to be better men. We choose to be open and honest. We inspire others and treat everyone with respect. We walk with poise and confidence, knowing we are making the right choices and have nothing to hide. We realize that we will continue to veer off course and will make poor decisions, but we take comfort in knowing that with the proper intentions and support from others we can always get back on track.
