The topic of ethics or having some form of moral compass is an ongoing discussion in life. It’s more prominent these days because we are all feeling more fragmented. But ethics, whether it’s in terms of benefiting the planet or in terms of just being a better person, there’s a number of ways that we can start to live more ethically. Here’s some approaches to consider.
Learn and Identify What Is Important to You
Everybody has their own approach to morals and we can all start by reflecting on our own ethics. You need to ask yourself questions about what is right and what is wrong, but also relate this to the things that you are passionate about. If you have a penchant for jewelry, you could weigh up the ethics of lab-grown diamonds over traditional ones (known as conflict diamonds). When you identify what is important to you, then you can start to question your current attitudes and work to be a better version of yourself.
Look at How You Can Make a Difference in the World
There is a lot to be said in terms of either sitting back and accepting things as they are or questioning the status quo. This is why it’s important to go back to the first point and identify what is actually important to you. This might seem like a tough thing to go through, but if you address those important aspects of your life that run through you like your blood, you can get a sense of meaning to life by challenging the things that don’t necessarily work. Being more ethical in life is about understanding your moral code and using it for the greater good. Whether you are religious or not, the teachings of religion can show us that everybody has the power to do good and you can make a big difference in this world by having an understanding of your ethics and your moral code.
Do the Little Things
The great thing about making massive changes is that we can achieve them by taking small steps in the right direction. Living an ethical life doesn’t have to mean making a massive statement, but it can be about the little things that you do that make you feel like you are living a life well spent. In terms of ethics relating to the environment, you can donate clothing, recycle, and generally be a Good Samaritan. The little things will do a lot to make you feel like you are making an investment in the world, as well as in yourself. We all have some inbuilt moral compass, and it’s when we see others doing things we don’t agree with, that makes us question whether we need to upgrade our moral code or if we need to spread the word about something we believe in. We can make changes in our lives, not just to benefit ourselves, but to benefit the world. This is where we can all stand to be more ethical in life because it helps us understand who we are.
