Hey friends, and welcome. I hope you’ve had an amazing weekend and your upcoming week is even better!

I have been doing so much reading lately. I sneak in reading time when I wake up in the morning, and during homeschool breaks. Last week I used a flashlight to read in the car when we were picking up groceries! Mom life, I tell ya.

One book in my rotation is titled “Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World” by The Dalai Lama. Research has shown that all human beings are born with an innate sense of morality. But sometimes, this breaks down in world cultures. In the book, he says:

Problems of corruption, environment, politics, and so on – almost always indicate a failure of moral ethics and inner values. At every level we see a lack of self-discipline. Many problems are also due to failures of discernment, of shortsightedness or narrow-mindedness.

Beyond Religion, p. 83

Friends, moral ethics and inner values are so important! I know this is something I need to diligently work on in my life. Learning even a little bit about how to become a better and more compassionate person each day can make a difference. I know that my children are watching me, and I think I need to be mindful about the example I set.

Related: Daily Wisdom

It’s important to look at our self-discipline. Sure, nobody is perfect. But do we discipline ourselves to get most of the important things done each day? There are many times that I lack discipline! But I know I need to train myself to do the next things, even when I don’t feel like it. This skill will save us and help us get the job done, even when we don’t feel like it.

Next, let’s think about discernment. Many times our intuition will give us all the discernment we need if we just listen to it. Before making a big decision (or even little decisions!), I try to find a quiet place to think about it. I’ve discovered that when I am rash and quickly decide something, I often regret it.

Shortsightedness and discernment often go hand and hand. When we make a decision, do we look at the immediate result, or lasting consequences? The things we do today will affect our lives both tomorrow and a year from now. We don’t need to be paralyzed by our decisions. But understanding the effect of our choices will definitely help us make the best one.

Finally, narrow-mindedness can cause all sorts of problems in our lives. It’s important to recognize that everyone on this earth has a purpose, and it might look different than yours. This is perfectly okay, and even needed. I think if we open ourselves up to the perspectives of others, then we all can grow into better people and get closer to real, lasting, solutions.

Moral ethics start in the home. As a mom, I’m aware of the huge task in front of me. Raising children isn’t always easy! But I also know that all I can do is try my best and be authentic while doing it. None of us are perfect, but it is a really good thing to show our kids firsthand that we value moral ethics and virtues.

I hope you have been encouraged today, friends. Let’s work on improving ourselves a little each day.