Moving Up: Positive

Psychology
by: Darell Franklen, Ph.D.
Conscience is a person’s self judge. It judges between right
and wrong for oneself, according to what one believes. It
helps a person correct his or her behavior. It works to
motivate a person to do better. Our conscience helps us
regulate our behavior in the light of our own experiences,
learning, beliefs, and/or inner passions. Conscience makes
judgements upon our own thoughts and actions, guiding us by
what we have been taught to be right or wrong. This means
that conscience keeps a person out of trouble. Conscience
triggers the inner psyche with feelings of embarrassment,
anxiety, shame, and/or guilt when we are influenced by it.
When our conscience senses that we are influenced by it.
When our conscience senses that we are performing according
to our goals, then our conscience sends happiness signals. The
signal of embarrassment, anxiety, and/ or guilt keeps us in line
with our inner value system.
Conscience functions with varying intensities for many
different issues. Conscience feels clean (our reward) when we
are compliant with our highest human potential.
If a person is somewhat passionately moving to his or her
optimum potential, that person needs to be able to hear and
interpret the messages of a rational and ethically driven
conscience.

A good conscience views situations from God’s perspective,

with God’s values. It can be developed and maintained by
reading and praying.
 A Prayer from Psalm 51:1-10
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to
thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly of my iniquities, and cleanse me of my sins! For I
know transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee. Thee
only, have I sinned and done evil in thy sight, so thou art justified in thy
sentence and blameless in thy judgement.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me. Behold, thou desi rest truth in the inward being, therefore
teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be
clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Fill mw with joy and gladness; let the bones that thou hast broken
rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities.