Ethics involves the ability to decide between right and wrong in human conduct to ensure a society where everyone feels safe and respected. It is generally consistent across a whole society and serves as a standard for acceptable behavior. Values, on the other hand, are the personal beliefs that guide or motivate our attitudes and actions. They define an individual's "character" and determine how they think, feel, and behave at home, at work, and in society.
While ethics is usually the same for everyone, personal values differ from person to person and are learned from family, culture, religion, and life experiences. Together, ethics and values form the six main pillars of character that support individuals in making right decisions:
- Trustworthiness: Being honest, reliable, and loyal.
- Responsibility: Being accountable, always doing your best, and using self-control.
- Caring: Being kind, compassionate, and helping those in need.
- Fairness: Being non-judgemental, open-minded, and making decisions based on facts rather than fake news.
- Respect: Respecting everyone regardless of their age, gender, religion, or class, and being careful not to hurt others' feelings.
- Citizenship: Respecting public property, protecting the environment, voting, and acting for the welfare of the community and the world.
To identify your personal values, you can think about what is most important in your life, remember experiences where you felt very happy, and consider the qualities you admire in others. Common examples of personal values include honesty, punctuality, creativity, leadership, and empathy. These values decide your day-to-day actions and serve as a guide throughout your life.