Most people acknowledge that being ethical is the right thing to do. Being ethical means being fair and reasonable and not being greedy. It means you’re interested in not only what’s best for you, but what’s honest and what’s right.
There’s another aspect to being ethical, however, that is worth knowing about. It’s the part that takes your stress away. Something almost magical happens to your spirits when you know in your heart that you are an honest, ethical person no matter what.
We hired fourteen-year-old Alice to do some baby-sitting. One night we got home fairly late by our usual standards. I drove Alice home and handed her what I thought was the money I owed her for her six hours of work. She thanked me and went inside.
When I got home ten minutes later, the phone rang and it was Alice. She said to me, “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to tell you right away that you must have made a mistake because you paid me too much.” It turned out that I had given her an extra $20 bill by mistake.
I thanked her, of course, and asked her why she had decided to be so honest. She said to me, “Because it’s the right thing to do. I would never want something like that on my conscience.”
It’s no wonder that Alice was a person who was completely comfortable with herself, self-assured and friendly. Part of the reason was that she had nothing to hide. Being ethical about being overpaid was simply an extension of her overall honesty and way of being. She would never have to wonder if being ethical was the right thing to do—it was automatic for her.
Ethical people have a natural sense of compassion for others. They would never do anything to harm someone else, certainly not intentionally. They would never kick someone when they are down or give themselves an unfair advantage by cheating or stealing. The implications of this type of behavior are huge. Consider this:
People who are ethical rarely have to feel bad about being mean, dishonest, or selfish. They have few regrets and almost never feel guilty. They feel comfortable trusting themselves because they trust their conscience. Others rely on them too because they are trustworthy. They don’t live in fear or doubt about being caught or scrutinized because they live with integrity. In fact, they don’t have to worry about what others think about them at all because they know in their hearts that they are doing the right thing. In any event, almost everyone thinks extremely well of them. Think of Alice for a moment. What’s not to like?
If you dare to be ethical, it will be a decision you’ll never regret. You’ll live your life not believing but knowing that you’re the best person you can be. You’ll discover inner peace. You’ll be proud of yourself and won’t have to concern yourself with the negative consequences and implications of dishonesty or unethical behavior. You’ll be free and happy.