Habit is a Motivator

The power of habit is a motivator for trust.

Why don’t people question or wonder if the sun will rise in the morning? It has erased all questioning, wonderment, and second guessing by the power of habit. When we as leaders are habitual in our ethical practices we will erase all suspicion and wonderment concerning our motives. Habit is produced and exercised from our character and is motivated by our core values and principles. Our belief system and code of conduct is what propels our actions in a consistent manner. Habits are repetitions of action that have become knee-jerk responses from the well worn grooves in our minds.

Habits are not a destiny but they are the means by which a destiny is achieved. The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, becoming more productive, facilitating  social change, becoming a better leader, and achieving success will be by habit. Once leadership consistently makes decisions that are ethical, and this pattern is imprinted on the minds of the citizenry, then leading that nation, community, or city will be the result of the force of character. When people trust leadership, the morale and mood of the country improves, and a calmness will ensue.

People like leadership to be predictable. They want to know that every time they can trust them to make the moral decisions with the public’s best interest at heart. Predictability in leadership is not boring but a consistent pattern of behavior that captures the whole of society and moves them forward. Habitual moral and ethical behavior will silence the critics without wasting time in debate. Integrity will embarrass the irresponsible attacks of the opposition. In other words, character and integrity leaves such giant footprints that it swallows the shallow meaningless attacks of those looking for a little hill to make a mountain out of it.

Leaders should always remember that it is easier to maintain character than to rebuild a reputation.

Fame is a vapor,
Popularity an accident.
Riches take wings.
Only one thing endures,
Character.

– Horace Greely

Human Rights Global Congress

Integrity - The Foundation of a Nation

 It is not the political maneuvering and mere titles that affect a nation to become something better than it currently is. It all starts somewhere and it begins with leadership INTEGRITY.  The integrity of leadership is the rock which a country anchors itself to. It provides stability, protection, and a hope for a better future. Interestingly, forces for change are found within leaders whose character doesn’t change. A country’s economic and social progress does not happen automatically as a big bang theory of national success. It begins with leadership and their integrity!

When an earthquake happens you will see yellow caution tape placed around certain buildings, warning of the possible danger of collapse. The authorities will use the phrase “the integrity of this building has been compromised.” It is now to dangerous to interact with it. Integrity is measured by how much pressure the individual or thing can withstand before compromising and becoming weak which can lead to collapse. When it comes to people, integrity is the consistent adherence to a set of values and morals.

The current congress of the United States started 2015 with an approval rating of just 16%. According to Gallup, 3 out of 4 Americans (76%) disapprove of the job of Congress. Why? The answer is quite simple; saying one thing in a campaign and doing another once in office betrays the trust of the people. A divorcement happens between citizen and politician and instead of working and collaborating together to make a nation better, it becomes a polarized environment. It is not mere partisan politics but it is the politician and people being at odds that create the toxic environment that breeds no movement or progress.

 Leadership of nations need the cooperation of the citizenry to accomplish the vision and goals it has set before them. People willingly follow when they can trust leadership. The foundation of trust is integrity. Charisma grabs the attention of people but character sustains their gaze. Ultimately they follow in agreement because of character and integrity which has produced in their heart “I trust you!” Even when they may not understand completely all of the “ins and outs” of legislation and political tools to get somewhere, but because they trust you, they will share the dream.

Integrity is not created overnight but is the result of being forged in the fires of adversity. When a person does not agree with you on a certain subject, they will respect you because of your integrity. That gives you the opportunity to be heard at all times. Honor permits influence to take place. Integrity creates the opportunity for honor – honor blows the wind of influence – influence provides the movement to achieve the goal.

Integrity is attractive. For example, when a fruit tree bears fruit it does not bring you the fruit. You are attracted to the tree. It in itself becomes a force of influence that draws people to you and your vision instead of driving them away.

Remember, a thousand right acts can be nullified by one wrong. One lie can call into question every truth I ever told. Integrity is worth every storm of temptation you have to endure to maintain the necessary influence.

Good Advice

Keep your promises, even when it’s not convenient. Value the making of promises equal to your life. In other words be willing to die before breaking your promises. Don’t speak things you don’t intend to do. Be done with careless speaking by realizing the weight of words and their impact. It is always wise to think before you speak.

 Proverbs 2:21
²¹  For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect (one with integrity) shall remain in it.

Dr. Reuben Egolf

Real Talk about Racial Issues

The moment I determine someone’s value by the color of their skin, ethnicity, or social and economic status, I have just imprisoned the effects of their potential on my life. In other words, when I hate the surface I also reject the gift on the inside.

Society must stop allowing surface issues from dictating life’s choices and start permitting honor to be the mandate of life. This breakdown happens when decisions are made about one’s value based on taught stereotypes which are produced from those who hold accountable an entire population for the actions of a few. They forcibly hold hostage entire ethnic groups because they made the assumption that the reason a certain perpetrator did what they did was the result of their skin color or ethnic background. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The color of one’s skin or ethnic background has no ability to cause a person to commit a crime or wreak havoc on society. It’s what is on the inside – the condition of heart and one’s perspective and lens concerning the value of others. Where do these perspectives come from? They are not innate but they are taught from childhood forward from parents and educational systems. Education imparts knowledge which in turn creates a lens for the individual to look through. This is the power of education and child training. 

Dorothy Law Nolte wrote in Children Learn What They Live (1998) the following.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

It is incumbent upon all of us to create an environment in our homes conducive to fortifying the lens in our children to see others as valuable and as equals. Teach them to realize that when a crime is perpetrated on humanity that it is the result of the person’s character and not the color of skin or ethnicity. 

 Treat others the way you want to be treated

                                         President & Vice President of the Human Rights 
                                         Global Congress Ambassador Dr. Clyde Rivers 
                                         and Dr. Reuben Egolf