Thursday, January 26, 2012

Unit 1 Notes

  • Good Character: the traits that describe you are a key to what you value.
  • Your values are the building blocks for charter.
What to know about good characters

Values
-A value is a standard or belief.
-Adults teach a value system to children by setting an example for children to copy.
-Values also are taught by setting standards for children's behavior.
-Self-control
-Delayed gratification is voluntarily postponing an immediate reward in order to complete a task before enjoying a reward.
-Compassion You demonstrate compassion when you are sensitive to the need, wants, and emotions of others, and you forgiving.
-Good citizenship You demonstrate good citizenship by obeying laws and rules, showing respect for authority, and protecting the environment.
Fairness You are fair when you abide by the rules and are a good sport, and do not take advantage of others.
Respect You show respect when you treat others as you want to be treated and refrain from violence.
- Responsibility You show responsibility when you do what you promise and are accountable for your decisions.
Honesty You are honest when you refuse to lie, steal, or mislead anyone.

How can you demonstrate good character in your daily life? 
Self-Respect
- Self-Respect is having a high regard for oneself.
- People have self-respect because they behave in responsible ways.

How to develop Self-respect
1.) Make a character check.
- Good character is your use of self-control to act on responsible values.
- If you behave in ways that contradict responsible values, you do not have good character.
- Throughout your life,  you can change your thoughts and actions to help you have good character.

2.) Control the belief statements that motivate you.
- You may have good character and act in ways that reflect responsible values, but still lack self-respect.
- The key to self-respect is controlling the belief statements that play in your mind.
- Adults can help you change negative beliefs statements into positive belief statements.
3.) Choose actions that promote self-respect.
- If you say you have self-respect, you must treat yourself in ways that show you respect yourself.
- Other people will notice your behavior and will have respect you.
- Pay attention to your appearance.
- Being well-groomed is one of the first indicators of self-respect.
- Make a list of your responsible actions and review the list often.
- Knowing that your actions are responsible helps keep you from getting down on yourself.
 
- Be a friend to yourself by enjoying activities by yourself.
Being by yourself allows you quiet time to get in touch with your thoughts and feelings.
- Write your feelings in a journal
- Writing about feelings is a good way to examine what is happening in your life.
- Review what you have written to gain self-knowledge.
- Make spending time with members of your family or a mentor a priority.
- A loving, supportive family believes in you, thinks you are special, encourages you, and helps you have a positive attitude about yourself.
- Let other people know what helps you feel special
- Do not take for granted that others know how you feel.