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Virtuous thought, words and behavior result in a natural abiity to:
-Think wisely, be grateful and feel joy,
-Live with inner peace and faith,
-Have reverence for all peoples and all life,
-Be motivated by the desire for purpose and meaning,
-Forgive injury and, most of all,
-Laugh and find humor in this very imperfect life on Earth!
Read the Courage Scroll and notice the relaxing effect.
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COURAGE SCROLL
Courage is trusting my strength . . . with good cheer.
Courage is acting in accord with my integrity.
I stand up patiently for what is right.
Courage
is making decisions and taking action for what I know is right even
when I don't want to or when I'm afraid. I become tenacious and
resolved. I choose wisely. When I am confronted, I remain quiet and
relaxed. I observe their concern and discern their anxiety. I use
reason to respond with the best words or actions. I don't let myself
get 'hooked' by fear, by self-doubt or by a need to control. My courage
ensures that I focus on understanding and resolution. Courage keeps
thoughts clear and focused. Guilt and shame deplete me. Even when
someone I respect criticizes me or confronts me, I remind myself that I
am not mean, I am simply a good person. I am true to myself and my
values. I may need to change my behavior. I am willing to consider that.
I am courageous and wise when challenged.
My courage calls me to act from integrity.
My
inner strength doesn’t desert me. I act in truth and honesty. My
integrity is there even when I feel alone or lost. I face my fears and
sorrows with nobility. I feel strong when I stand for what is right. I
am willing and cheerful. Even when I'm tired, discouraged or
frustrated, my courage keeps me from giving up. I remain firm. I stand
tall. I can always take the next step. I can always smile.
I face my fears with nobility.
I am willing and cheerful.
When
I am ready, I take action to improve myself. My courage serves me best
when I need to redecide. Like the noble person who says "no," to the
next delaying tactic, snack, cigarette, scathing word, or depressing
thought, I say "no" to the old habits that I want to extinguish. As I
sense the internal impulse to reach for a crutch, to strike back with
an insult or to dwell on a negative thought, I stop. My courage calls
me to act from my integrity. I choose the high road.
My courage impels me into positive change.
I respect myself and others.
When
I examine my patterns, I logically look at my humanness. I am strong
and honest enough to acknowledge the old patterns I want to end or
replace. Courage allows me to know and accept my shadow side. Wisdom
helps me understand my direction of learning and expansion. I maintain
a positive attitude with determined morale. I am courteous. I act and
think in ways that express respect toward myself and others.
I patiently stand up for what is right.
I am true to myself.
INSTRUCTIONS: To
practice and gain a virtue, read your scroll once in the morning and
once before sleeping for a week. For synthesis into your thoughts,
feelings, words and actions, use each scroll for at least 21 days.
Email Heather for the other 11.
You are invited to copy and share these scrolls. The Courage Virtue Scroll is dedicated to Linda Willer.
©1995 by Heather Carlile heatherc@heathercarlile.com 214-636-5889
How to Use the Virtue Scrolls
Life is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived.
-Soren Kierkegaard
READ THE SCROLL:
When we nourish our thoughts with the best, we can develop new and
better habits of thinking, speaking and behaving. For effective
cognitive restructuring, you can use the descriptions in the Virtue
Scroll to learn what your thoughts, words and actions look like when
you are true to a virtue. Read the Virtue Scroll for at least a week or
a month daily – in the morning and before sleeping.
RETROSPECTION:
In the evening, read the Virtue Scroll and then think backwards through
your daily experience. Holding the virtue in mind, for example,
Patience. Observe when you had an opportunity to be patient. Consider
how patiently you responded to people and experiences in your thoughts
and words and actions that day. Did you express patience? Could you
have been more patient? Are you more or less patient than you had
thought you were? How do you feel when you're patient?
LOG THE DATA:
Jot down a plus or minus on your Virtue Log for each event in the day.
Do this without judging yourself—judgment and criticism are usually not
constructive. Be accurate, keep to intelligent observation like a
scientist taking data in an experiment. Over time, you will see
permanent improvement.
MAKE NEW HABITS:
As each day comes, you will find yourself becoming more conscious of
your possible choices to think and behave with the virtue you’re
studying. With some days of practice, you will move from awareness into
acting on your new insights and ideas and the virtues will naturally
become second nature for you. You will usually gain a sense of power
for good because you made the choice and decided on the action.
As you think back through your day, place plus marks and minus marks in your virtue log or your journal for the day.
Read a Virtue Scroll twice a day for a week and watch your pluses increase and your minuses decrease!
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Heather
has written a scroll for each of the Twelve Great Virtues. Contact her
if you are interested in receiving other Virtue Scrolls, a Virtue Log
or scheduling her to teach them individuallly or to a class.
The Twelve Great Virtues:
Charity, Courage, Devotion, Discernment, Patience, Forbearance,
Humility, Kindliness, Efficiency, Precision, Sincerity, and Tolerance.
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