Out of Character: Surprising truths about the Liar, Cheat, Sinner (and Saint) lurking in all of us. By David DeSteno and Piercarlo Valdesolo (Post Script)
I have been thinking about the whole issue of Character as I discussed in my earlier blogs, last week, and wanted to discuss two more things: practical implications about understanding character and to give you (the reader) three additional places that you could read about the implications of judging “good” and “bad” character.
Practical Implications
As we realize that it is only human to “slip” and that we all do things that can be considered bad character, we develop the capacity for compassion when someone else slips. It is hard to forgive when bad character effects us but if we acknowledge our own inadequacies, it is an important step to forgiveness and eventually to healing.
As human beings, it is to our advantage to be humble and to have as our goal that though we will not always be able to do the right thing, that we will always shoot for being honest and ethical and be work at forgiving ourselves and other when we make bad choices.
One last thought, all of us will inevitably do things of bad character in an impulsive moment or as a result of bad judgment, but our internal battle of good over bad will be won if when we discover that we have gone to the dark side and that we have the courage to work at making things right and take responsibility for our bad behavior as well as spending a great deal of effort at making amends for our bad actions.
If you would like to hear a lecture on this subject by the authors you can go to: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/05/11/out-of-character/
If you would like to read more about this subject feel free to go to my blogs on June 1st and June 3 of this year
(2012)