M 2.3.1 Lesson cum Activity: (20 PTS.

The questions are hidden in the text lecture. Read and ty to understand the premise of
the different values before answering the questions. No need to copy the entire text to
answer the activity just number your responses and then answer.

Developing Virtues as a Habit-at time when we see people doing bad things we just
look the other way. We don’t want to be involved! At times it’s because we have no
right to because we do the same thing over and over again even when we know it is
wrong. What happened? When you were a child you always do the right things. You
make people happy with your good deeds. Let us start anew. Review the 7 virtues and
deadly sins. (see table at the last part of this text)

What would your family look like if your children (and even adults in your family) treat
themselves and others with respect, valued kindness and service, and even worked at
being on time all the time?

It doesn’t take a magic wand.

It’s not difficult to do if you have the tools available. And, we promise you don’t have to
swap out your kids for new ones. After years of research, we know that instilling and
developing virtues in ourselves and in our children is one of the best ways for families
to thrive. It brings joy and peace into the family and unites the family. The family unites
to improve for each other, and this is what leads to happier and healthier lives.
Cultivating virtues leads a child to develop confidence and more meaningful life. It
makes daily life much more pleasant...for everyone, most especially parents! And, once
cultivated, they last a child’s lifetime.

Virtues are often confused with values in part because people often associate virtues
with being good in some capacity—and the definition of good means different things to
different people. Some define virtue as doing what’s best for yourself. Others think of it
as being your best self. Then there are those who define virtues in the traditional
context of being good—not gossiping, not cheating, not stealing. Being virtuous
includes all of these things, but there’s more to it than that. In fact, there are three
distinct qualities that set virtues apart:

Habits 

Virtue is not something innately ingrained when we are born, but rather, something we
practice and improve on. Growing in virtue means forming a new habit and continuing
that habit over time. According to studies and researches, it takes 28 days of daily
practice to develop a habit. 


Acts of Love 

Virtues, at their core, are meant to be actions of love. Virtuous habits are not meant to
be positive actions in and of themselves, or a means to get something we want, but
rather each virtue should be considered an “act of love” or a gift of self. 


A Better Version of Ourselves


When we intentionally form virtuous habits, we open ourselves to new opportunities
and a truer version of who we were created to be. 


While it’s easy to see the value in improving how we live in virtue, it’s hard to know
where to start.

The easiest way to get started is to pick one virtue you want to improve upon and set a
goal to change your behavior in regard to that virtue over a period of time. Remember,
virtues are good habits developed out of love for others. When you begin growing in
one virtue, you’ll end up growing in many of them simultaneously!

Each of the 40 virtues listed below helps build character and foster a sense of well-
being...

Orderliness: Achieving our goals by doing the things we should do, when we should do
them, and how we should do them. This involves keeping oneself physically clean and
neat and one’s belongings in good order. It also means being on time. Kids ages 4-7
will enjoy building this character strength with our Paddle Tales: Stories on Orderliness,
and kids of all ages love using our chore chart.


Generosity: Giving good things to others freely and abundantly—not just money, but
also time, knowledge, and skills. It's also the way in which we give...willingly and
cheerfully. Our Thrive Journal: Kindness helps parents develop this virtue in their
children and shows them that true happiness comes from giving of ourselves to others.


Courage: Standing up for what is right, even in the face of pressure. In the Screwtape
Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of
every virtue at the testing point.” The virtue of courage, when developed, helps kids
stand up to bullies, or not give in to peer pressure to participate in bullying, not cheat
on tests, or not skip school. 


Wisdom: This virtue allows us to determine what’s right and what’s wrong, stop and
consider the consequences of our decisions before acting or speaking and then act
accordingly. Developing this virtue allows one to differentiate between right and wrong
in situations where different values might collide or there are no clear guidelines. 


Justice: Giving to others what they are rightly due. A just person is distinguished by
habitual right thinking and treating others fairly, and is someone who promotes equity.
In order to help our children develop the virtue of justice, it’s important we guide them
to stand up against unfair practices, defend the innocent, not blame the victim and give
to those in need.


Self-control: Managing our desires and wants in order to achieve a greater good and
meet our life goals. Building self-control not only gives us willpower but also grows
self-esteem. In today's day and age, with technology at the fingertips of our children,
this virtue is imperative to develop. Help children jumpstart this important virtue with
our Thrive Journal: Kindness.


Assertiveness: Achieving goals by setting appropriate and positive boundaries, asking

for help when we need it, and being confident and positive about our abilities. This
virtue helps kids stand up for themselves in any situation and say NO to peer pressure,
as well as being able to negotiate when having a disagreement. Assertiveness also
builds confidence, self-esteem, and the ability to form and maintain stronger
relationships. 


Helpfulness: Being of service to others and doing thoughtful things that make a
difference in the lives of others, as well as our own. This virtue begins with observation
and awareness. Through the virtue of helpfulness, we give of ourselves and grow in
love. It does not mean taking over and doing everything ourselves. For example, as a
parent, it means giving assistance while other times it means showing our kids how to
do something and letting them do it on their own.


Modesty: Purity of heart in action, especially in regards to dress and speech. Modesty
helps us dress in a way that safeguards our dignity. While we usually think of
immodesty as not wearing enough clothing, one can also be guilty of being excessively
modest or prudish. Modesty in speech encourages patience and moderation in
relationships. In the age of social media, the virtue of modesty is grossly missing. Kids
(and adults) could use a bit more modesty in what photos they’re posting, as well as
what comments they leave.


Peacefulness: Having a sense of inner calm, no matter what is happening around us.
It’s about being satisfied and content wherever we are or whatever is happening
around us, and being in harmony with our goals and desires. This virtue allows us to be
calm and poised in the midst of our crazy-busy lives and the stress that comes with it.
When our children are peaceful, they are able to learn, grow, and develop into their own
person. As a result, they learn how to be strong and confident in themselves and their
abilities.


Service: Being helpful to the entire family of humankind. This can also be called
beneficence, which means helping the greater community for the common good.
Colleges often look for service hours when reviewing applications because a well-
rounded person is someone who gives of himself/herself and recognizes the needs of
the greater community.


Forgiveness: Handling disobedience, poor choices, and disputes in a reasonable and

consistent manner by not being too strict, but not being too lax either. Forgiveness isn’t
just saying sorry. It must be sincere and come from the heart. When we know how to
forgive, we’re able to let go of resentment and allow ourselves to heal.


Purposefulness: Having a clear vision, strong focus, and concentration on goals where
we do one thing at a time without wasted thoughts or energy. Our Thrive Journal:
Purpose is ideal for parents who would like to take their children on a journey through
the virtues that build greater purpose in family life. Being purposeful means having a
clear focus and a vision, which all of us can benefit from.

Good Counsel: Seeking advice from a reasonable person. This virtue enables us to
know who we can trust to have our best interest at heart, as well as when to ask for
help. It's important our children know how valuable it is to have a handful of
trustworthy mentors available to them throughout their lives.


Responsibility: Fulfilling one’s duties and accepting the consequences of one’s words
and actions—intentional and unintentional. Let’s face it, the world needs more people
who are willing to take personal responsibility for their thoughts, words, actions, and
their associated consequences. Teaching our children this virtue will help them
throughout the rest of their lives, and, when times get tough, they can move through
adversity much faster without playing the victim card.


Kindness: Expressing genuine concern about the well-being of others--anticipating

their needs. As parents, we want our children to thrive in kindness, no matter their age.
Our Thrive Journal: Kindness helps parents infuse self-control, gratitude, and
generosity in their kids so they can better control their impulses to technology or drugs,
curb bullying, be great friends, and give of themselves to make the world a better
place. 

Get started today, and show your kids that kindness can be fun with our Kindness
Bingo game. Trust us, they will love it...and so will you!


Honesty: Sincerity, openness, and truthfulness in one’s words and actions. Honesty
helps foster strong, meaningful, and happy relationships throughout our lives. Much of
the suffering in families, in relationships, and even in society is due to dishonesty. This
virtue helps us resist the temptation of instant gratification and cutting corners for our
own self-interest. It also helps us understand discretion. 


Respect: Recognizing the worth and dignity of every single human person. The virtue
of respect allows us to live in harmony with others. When we respect our parents, we
respect authority figures like teachers, our bosses, and even our neighbors. Respect
can mean admiration for a person’s qualities or abilities as well as being courteous to
or allowing others their rights. Respect can also mean healthy regard for one’s self. 


Tolerance: Allowing other people to have their opinions about non-essential things and
accepting the preferences and ideas that are different from ours without compromising
our own beliefs.


Perseverance: Taking the steps necessary to carry out objectives in spite of difficulties.
Developing this virtue helps us be successful in life--no matter our goals or obstacles
we face. From school and sports in our early years to business later in life, this virtue
allows us to look adversity in the eye, overcome the temptation to quit or be distracted
and continue giving 100 percent to achieve our goals.


Good judgment: Thinking rightly about a decision and making a sound decision. The
virtue of good judgment is developed through experiences both good and bad, as well
as reflection on those decisions. It’s important to allow our children to make decisions,
as well as reflect on and learn from them.


Gratitude: Gratitude is also called thankfulness, but it’s not the same thing as saying
“thank you.” It is having a thankful disposition of mind and heart. If we have gratitude,
it can transform our entire outlook on life. Our Thrive Journal: Kindness takes children
on a journey to grow this character strength and make gratitude a daily habit for a
lifetime.


Humility: A humble person can be confident without being arrogant and maintain self-
respect despite what others think. Humility is a virtue that helps kids be better team
players at school or in sports and own their mistakes. In the face of criticism, this virtue
helps us fully consider what is being said instead of instantly defending ourselves.


Obedience: Assenting to rightful authority without hesitation or resistance. In today’s

world, individual freedom and thoughts are put above all else, and obeying authority is
seen as weak and a threat to personal freedom. However, the virtue of obedience is
what keeps society from disintegrating into chaos and teaches us how to shed our
pride and ego and be more humble for the greater societal good.


Patience: Remaining calm and not becoming annoyed when dealing with problems or
difficult people. This could also mean paying attention to something for a long time
without becoming bored or losing interest. Almost everyone has heard the statement,
“Patience is a virtue!” 


Leadership/Command: Directly acting upon a sound decision. Instilling this virtue in our
children will prevent them from saying cruel things (or posting mean comments on
social media) and helps them use their words wisely rather than resorting to fighting. It
will also help them be better leaders.


Truthfulness: Acting in a way that inspires confidence and trust. Being a person whom
others cannot count on blocks powerful and effective relationships from being built.
Being reliable is a virtue that will take us far in school, at work, and in our relationships.


Moderation: Controlling our desires and wants in order to achieve a greater good and
meet life’s goals. Self-denial can be difficult today because our culture promotes
indulgence and self-gratification. This virtue is a combination of moderation and self-
control that permits us to live a rich and rewarding life filled with good things that really
matter. It can be challenging because it requires us to use self-discipline to limit (or
even to deny ourselves) some pleasures.


Loyalty: Accepting the bond implicit in relationships and defending the virtues upheld
by church, family, and country. The virtue of loyalty is critical to every relationship we
have in life that matters. Teaching our children this virtue helps them build better
relationships with friends, colleagues, and, eventually, their spouses.

Courtesy: Treating other people with respect and recognizing that all people are worthy
of love and acceptance. When we speak and act courteously, we let others know we
value and respect them. Developing this virtue helps us think about others before we
act and makes our interactions with others more pleasant. It also helps our kids to ask
rather than demand.


Friendliness: Being easy to approach and easy to talk to; being a friend during the best
of times and worst of times. Being friendly is a virtue that will get us far in life, as it
shows interest in other people and makes them feel seen and heard. When we invite
people into a relationship, when we are curious about them, we have a more fulfilled
life.


Sincerity: Trustfulness in words and actions; honesty and enthusiasm toward others. In
today’s world, it can be difficult to express ourselves and be who we really are because
we’re afraid of ridicule or backlash online. Sincerity is a virtue that allows us to be who
we really are and freely express ourselves. When we are who we really are, rather than
trying to be someone else, we have more self-love and self-respect. This, in turn,
makes us happier and more fulfilled human beings. 


Prayerfulness: Creating time each day for prayer, meditation, or mindfulness helps kids
connect with a higher power. Connecting with a higher power helps them have hope,
especially in tough times.


Greatness: Seeking with confidence to do great things; literally “having a large soul.”
Otherwise referred to as the virtue of magnanimity, greatness is about pursuing what is
great and honorable no matter how difficult. It means stepping out of our comfort
zones and doing what will benefit ourselves and others the most.


Docility: Willingness to be taught, to learn, and to grow. The Latin root docere means to
teach, and it’s where we get the words doctor and doctrine. Docility is the virtue of
obedience and the openness to be taught. It’s about being open to new ideas and
gaining truthful knowledge and applying it in our lives.


Industriousness: Being diligent and working energetically and devoutly, especially in

work that leads to natural and supernatural maturity. It’s not about working to acquire
more money, things, or status. This virtue helps us find self-worth and dignity in our
work--whether personal or professional.


Foresight: Consideration of the consequences of one's action and thinking ahead. This
virtue allows us to think about today while being mindful of the past and conscious of
the future. Instilling this virtue in our children helps them think before they act and
make better decisions throughout life.


Patriotism: Paying due honor and respect to one's country, with a willingness to serve.
Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to a homeland
and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment. Learning how to show
patriotism means teaching our children proper respect and honor for their country.


Meekness: Having a serenity of spirit while focusing on the needs of others. True
meekness is part of the virtue of self-control and remaining calm and not allowing
oneself to be quick to anger. With today’s 24/7 news cycle and social posting, teaching
our children the virtue of meekness will help them not react out of malice or anger, but
rather count to ten and think before they act.


Tact: Careful consideration of circumstances and consequences. A person with tact is

understanding, sensitive, and empathetic to others. They think before they speak and
act and often keep critical and upsetting thoughts to themselves. Helping our children
develop this virtue will help them immensely throughout their school years and into
adulthood.

https://www.familiesofcharacter.com/.../what-are-the-40...

Activity:

1. Pick one virtue you want to improve upon, ____________

2. Why have you chosen it and

how do you intend to do it? ______________

3. Set a deadline to change your behavior in regard to that virtue.

__________________

4. Watch the YouTube video of “Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from the School of
Life”

After watching the video write a one sentence statement on how you intend to live
your life always __________________________________________________________

5. What is your concept of a glass house? is it to see the surrounding or for the
surrounding to see you? ______________

6. Can your virtues be like a glasshouse? _____. How and Why? __________________

The 30 day habit-breaking plan has come under many guises over the years and has
been backed by many different experts. But most people agree that the genesis of this
theory dates back to a 1960 psychology book: Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell
Maltz.

7. Does it take 21 days to form a habit?_____

How Long Does it Actually Take to Form a New Habit?

(Backed by Science)
written by JAMES CLEAR
BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY HABITS
Maxwell Maltz was a plastic surgeon in the 1950s when he began noticing a strange
pattern among his patients.

When Dr. Maltz would perform an operation — like a nose job, for example — he found
that it would take the patient about 21 days to get used to seeing their new face.
Similarly, when a patient had an arm or a leg amputated, Maxwell Maltz noticed that
the patient would sense a phantom limb for about 21 days before adjusting to the new
situation.

These experiences prompted Maltz to think about his own adjustment period to
changes and new behaviors, and he noticed that it also took himself about 21 days to
form a new habit. Maltz wrote about these experiences and said, “These, and many
other commonly observed phenomena tend to show that it requires a minimum of
about 21 days for an old mental image to dissolve and a new one to jell.”

In 1960, Maltz published that quote and his other thoughts on behavior change in a
book called Psycho-Cybernetics (audiobook). The book went on to become an
blockbuster hit, selling more than 30 million copies.

And that’s when the problem started.

You see, in the decades that followed, Maltz’s work influenced nearly every major “self-
help” professional from Zig Ziglar to Brian Tracy to Tony Robbins. And as more people
recited Maltz's story — like a very long game of “Telephone” — people began to forget
that he said “a minimum of about 21 days” and shortened it to, “It takes 21 days to
form a new habit.”

And that’s how society started spreading the common myth that it takes 21 days to
form a new habit (or 30 days or some other magic number). It's remarkable how often
these timelines are quoted as statistical facts. Dangerous lesson: If enough people say
something enough times, then everyone else starts to believe it.

It makes sense why the “21 Days” Myth would spread. It’s easy to understand. The
time frame is short enough to be inspiring, but long enough to be believable. And who
wouldn’t like the idea of changing your life in just three weeks?

But the problem is that Maxwell Maltz was simply observing what was going on around
him and wasn’t making a statement of fact. Furthermore, he made sure to say that this
was the minimum amount of time needed to adapt to a new change.

So what’s the real answer? How long does it take to form a habit? How long does it
take a break a bad habit? Is there any science to back this up? And what does all of
this mean for you and me?


How Long it Really Takes to Build a New Habit

Phillippa Lally is a health psychology researcher at University College London. In a
study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, Lally and her research
team decided to figure out just how long it actually takes to form a habit.

The study examined the habits of 96 people over a 12-week period. Each person
chose one new habit for the 12 weeks and reported each day on whether or not they
did the behavior and how automatic the behavior felt.

Some people chose simple habits like “drinking a bottle of water with lunch.” Others
chose more difficult tasks like “running for 15 minutes before dinner.” At the end of the
12 weeks, the researchers analyzed the data to determine how long it took each
person to go from starting a new behavior to automatically doing it.

The answer?

On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes

automatic — 66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary
widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. In Lally's study,
it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days for people to form a new habit.

In other words, if you want to set your expectations appropriately, the truth is that it will
probably take you anywhere from two months to eight months to build a new behavior
into your life — not 21 days.

Interestingly, the researchers also found that “missing one opportunity to perform the
behavior did not materially affect the habit formation process.” In other words, it
doesn’t matter if you mess up every now and then. Building better habits is not an all-
or-nothing process.

Finding Inspiration in the Long Road

Before you let this dishearten you, let's talk about three reasons why this research is
actually inspiring.

First, there is no reason to get down on yourself if you try something for a few weeks
and it doesn't become a habit. It's supposed to take longer than that! There is no need
to judge yourself if you can't master a behavior in 21 short days. Learn to love your 10
Years of Silence. Embrace the long, slow walk to greatness and focus on putting in
your reps.

Second, you don't have to be perfect. Making a mistake once or twice has no
measurable impact on your long-term habits. This is why you should treat failure like a
scientist, give yourself permission to make mistakes, and develop strategies for getting
back on track quickly.

And third, embracing longer timelines can help us realize that habits are a process and
not an event. All of the “21 Days” hype can make it really easy to think, “Oh, I'll just do
this and it'll be done.” But habits never work that way. You have to embrace the
process. You have to commit to the system.

Understanding this from the beginning makes it easier to manage your expectations
and commit to making small, incremental improvements — rather than pressuring
yourself into thinking that you have to do it all at once.

8. Good habit in exchange to bad habits are life-changing, In your opinion, How long
can you form a good habit to become a better person that the person you are
now? _______Explain your answer _______________________________________

Where to Go From Here

At the end of the day, how long it takes to form a particular habit doesn't really matter
that much. Whether it takes 50 days or 500 days, you have to put in the work either
way.

The only way to get to Day 500 is to start with Day 1. So forget about the number and
focus on doing the work.

If you want more practical ideas for breaking bad habits and creating good habits,
check out my book Atomic Habits, which will show you how small changes in
habits can lead to remarkable results.

NAME SEVEN ASPIRING CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE

PRESIDENTIAL POSITIONS FOR THE COMING ELECTION, PUT A CHECK MARK IF
THE CANDIDATE HAS THE GIVEN MORAL VALUE AND “X” IF SHE/HE DOES NOT
HAVE IT.

Presidentiables/Vice PRUDE JUSTIC FORTI TEMPE FAITH HOPE LOVE

Presidentiables NCE E TUDE RANC
E

NAME FOUR ASPIRING CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL

POSITIONS FOR THE COMING ELECTION, PUT A CHECK MARK IF THE CANDIDATE
HAS THE GIVEN DEADLY SIN AND “X” IF SHE/HE DOES NOT HAVE IT.

Presidentiables/Vice LUST GLUTT GREE SLOTH WRAT ENVY PRID

Presidentiables ONY D H E