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Universal Law of Character
by Ron Kurtus (updated 27 May 2023)
Your character is based on a self-preservation principle of behavior. This Universal Law of Character states that you should not cause harm to yourself or to others.
Although this seems obvious, those with poor or negative character traits harm themselves or others directly or indirectly.
Causing harm to others usually results in causing harm to yourself, so this Law also applies to social and cultural character.
Questions you may have include:
- How does the Universal Law of Character relate to personal character?
- How does the Universal Law relate to social character?
- How does the Universal Law relate to cultural character?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Personal character
The Universal Law for Personal Character is not to cause harm to your well-being. Instead, do things that will benefit your success.
Examples of how personal character traits can harm or help you include:
When you procrastinate, you will often lose out on opportunities and hurt your chances to get what you want. Making timely decisions will help you succeed.
Blaming others for your mistakes causes you harm in that you do not learn and grow from those mistakes. Taking responsibility for your actions will be beneficial in allowing you to move ahead.
Being disorganized can hurt you, because you may not be able to find something you need.
Negative personal character traits can also affect or harm others and are considered under social character traits.
Your personal character traits can also benefit others.
If others see that you have good personal traits that can benefit them, they will want to deal with you.
and are considered under social character traits. Suppose you are a good worker.
Social character
The Universal Law for Social Character is not to cause harm or losses to others, because others may ultimately come back and cause harm to you. Instead, try to do things that will benefit others.
Examples of how social character traits can harm or help others include:
Being unreliable can cause an inconvenience or even a loss to someone who is depending on you. People don't like that and may not provide you help when you need it. Thus, you indirectly cause harm to yourself. It is better to be reliable.
Being lazy at work can result in a financial loss for your employer. In turn, you may lose your job or opportunity for a raise in pay. In the end, your negative social actions can do you harm. Being a hard worker benefits both your employer and yourself.
A dishonest person may achieve personal gain from his deception for years. Victims of his dishonesty will dislike and avoid such a person. Often, the dishonest person will be found out, disgraced and punished. People prefer to deal with those who are honest.
Often social character traits also relate to groups and cultures.
Cultural character
The Universal Law for Cultural Character is to not cause harm or losses to the group or its individuals. Instead, if you want to belong to a culture or organization, you should do things in the best interest of the group.
The reckless driver threatens harm to others around him. When he is caught, the government will punish him for his offenses. Not obeying the law can result in personal losses.
The rude and careless Girl Scout is breaking the scout code and affecting others in the group. The girl's negative character can also create a poor impression about her troop to outsiders. Unless she changes, she may be asked to leave the group.
Summary
The Universal Law of Character states that you should not cause harm to yourself. Those with poor or negative character traits cause harm to themselves directly or indirectly. Causing harm to others usually results in causing harm to yourself, so this Law also applies to social and cultural character.
Follow the universal rules
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universal_law_of_character.htm.
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Universal Law of Character