From our guest contributor,  Michael Josephson.

The older I get, the less I know — but I know some things:

I know that I’m a work in process and that there will always be a gap between who I am and who I want to be.

I know that I don’t have to be sick to get better and that every day brings opportunities to improve my life and my character.

I know that it’s easier to talk about integrity than to live it and that the true test is my willingness to do the right thing even when it costs more than I want to pay.

I know that character is more important than competence.

I know that it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.

I know that I often judge myself by my best intentions and most noble acts, but that I’ll be judged by my last worst act.

I know that I can’t control what will happen to me but that I have a lot to say about what happens in me.

I know that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

I know that attitudes, both good and bad, are contagious.

I know that winning is more than coming in first and that there’s no real victory without honor.

I know that it takes a conscientious effort to be kind, but that kindness changes lives.

I know that neither gratitude nor forgiveness comes naturally; both often require acts of will.

I know that real success is being significant.

I know that happiness is deeper and more enduring than either pleasure or fun and that I’m generally as happy as I’m willing to be.

I know that the surest road to happiness is good relationships and that the best way to have good relationships is to be a good person.

For more information on how good character plays a leading role in our lives, click here!

Michael Josephson is an influential and internationally renowned champion of character education for youth and ethical conduct in business, government, policing, journalism, sports, healthcare and law. He is credited by many as the person most responsible for reviving and professionalizing the character education in school and youth-serving organizations. In 1992, under the auspices of the Josephson Institute he created CHARACTER COUNTS!, the world’s most widely implemented character development initiative based on a common language of shared values – the Six Pillars of Character) and Pursuing Victory With Honor (1996), a companion program promoting ethics in sports.

Click here for more information on character education.

When we see people succeed, we may assume that things like natural talent or test scores were the big factors in their success. While these factors can play into their success, there’s more to it than that. Author Angela Duckworth discusses the power of grit and the influence it can have on one’s success. After dedicating her time and research to figuring out what makes people successful, Duckworth has discovered the power that passion and perseverance can have in achieving your goals. Click on the video below to see Duckworth’s research on grit and how it impacts success.

After taking some time to learn about Duckworth’s research, try and relate her findings to your own goals. Are there areas in your life where her research could help you achieve your goals and be successful?

For more information on success and what it really means, click here.

Click here for more information on character education.

Check out our favorite stories this week. Click the picture to learn more about each one!

One text changed Thanksgiving plans for this teen in Phoenix, Arizona: https://t.co/JdjgjQjipA pic.twitter.com/VbQtKwsmVl

— A Plus (@aplusapp) November 17, 2016

Encourage #leadership in girls!!! #BanBossy campaign promoted by @BanBossy & @Sherysandberg COO of #Facebook #Parenting pic.twitter.com/MwrlVA0ZfJ

— Kids In The House (@KidsintheHouse) November 11, 2016

Forgive yourself today. No one else expects you to be perfect. #SimplyHappyProject pic.twitter.com/P95Z4B4Hpg

— A Plus (@aplusapp) November 16, 2016

Be the change! #generosity #passiton pic.twitter.com/pNDGkrxFHr

— VALUES.COM (@Valuescom) November 16, 2016

#ReviveCivility Joint Board Statement: #Civility. Respect. Together Let’s write America’s next chapter – https://t.co/u4NXL0OkHt pic.twitter.com/7t3kjy4S3a

— Natl Inst Civil Disc (@NICDInstitute) November 15, 2016

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.
― Plato #quote https://t.co/BTM9wN5tpo

— Gordon Tredgold (@GordonTredgold) November 15, 2016

If you witness an act of bias, hate or harassment, do something. https://t.co/9aFeZ3kxrV pic.twitter.com/tRPb0u4Cbu

— Teaching Tolerance (@Tolerance_org) November 15, 2016

“The human spirit can overcome anything if it has hope.” https://t.co/hj25J3itYT

— TED Talks (@TEDTalks) November 10, 2016

Courage is refusing to be a slave to fear. ~@LollyDaskal #book https://t.co/6q44fO6FzX #Leadership

— Lolly Daskal (@LollyDaskal) November 10, 2016

“If you try to be good at everything, you’ll end up being mediocre at everything.” ~ Frank Sonnenberg @FSonnenberg #CareerTip pic.twitter.com/efhDhhqmtX

— Frank Sonnenberg (@FSonnenberg) November 2, 2016

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From our guest contributor Michael Josephson.

When Jason, a construction worker, took a sandwich out of his lunch bag, he looked at it and threw it on the ground yelling, “Bologne again! I hate bologne.”

A co-worker said, “If you hate baloney so much, just ask your wife to make you something else.”

Jason replied, “That’s the problem. My wife didn’t make the sandwich. I did.”

Lots of people continually make their own baloney sandwiches and then act as victims when it’s time to eat them. It’s like the man who killed his parents and had the audacity to demand mercy because he was an orphan.

The bologne sandwich is a metaphor for things we do to ourselves that make our lives tougher. Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

For some, the problem is personal relationships. Thus, intelligent people driven by loneliness, sexual attraction, irrational romanticism, or a rescue mentality disregard their good sense and core values by repetitively getting involved with people who are bad for them.

Others have bologne or dishonorable bosses or unfulfilling or demeaning jobs. Sooner or later, unhealthy relationships and unrewarding jobs will become intolerable.

Thomas Huxley said, “Logical consequences are the scarecrows of fools and the beacons of wise men.” In other words, every mistake can make us more afraid or wiser.

If you don’t like bologne sandwiches, take control of your life — identify the values that are really important to you and don’t compromise them.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

Michael Josephson is an influential and internationally renowned champion of character education for youth and ethical conduct in business, government, policing, journalism, sports, healthcare and law. He is credited by many as the person most responsible for reviving and professionalizing the character education in school and youth-serving organizations. In 1992, under the auspices of the Josephson Institute he created CHARACTER COUNTS!, the world’s most widely implemented character development initiative based on a common language of shared values – the Six Pillars of Character) and Pursuing Victory With Honor (1996), a companion program promoting ethics in sports.

Click here for more information on character education.

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From our guest contributor, Frank Sonnenberg.

People with courage possess ten shared characteristics. They should remain as guideposts in your journey through life:

Self-confidence. Courageous people believe in themselves. They know who they are and what they stand for. They have strong values, recognize their personal capabilities, and are confident in meeting the challenges that lie before them. Courageous people are passionate and purposeful. You can sense courageous people when they walk into a room –– they have a bounce in their step, maintain a positive outlook, and are comfortable in their own skin.

Conviction. You always know where courageous people stand. They’re passionate about their beliefs and values and have consistent and predictable behavior. They don’t blindly follow the crowd, waffle in the face of adversity, or change their opinion unless the change is supported by a strong, factual case.

Integrity. Courageous people know the difference between right and wrong. They don’t just talk about honor; they live it every day by following the letter, as well as the spirit, of the law. They are trustworthy, objective, fair, and tolerant, and they stand up against injustice –– backing their words with action.

Leadership. Courageous people aren’t deterred by adversity or afraid of what people may think of them. Courageous leaders motivate people with personal charisma, expertise, integrity, and respect rather than by using their position or authority as a crutch. Courageous people are tough, but fair. While they may ask others to achieve the “impossible,” they ask of others only what they’re willing to do themselves.

Compassion. Courageous people put other people’s needs ahead of their own. They know that the Captain must go down with the ship and that being selfless helps to gain the respect of friends and colleagues.

Objectivity. Courageous people understand the importance of trust, honesty, and full disclosure while confronting people who hide behind untruths. They believe that people are willing to make tough decisions if the options are presented to them in an open, honest, and objective manner. They also believe that people should admit their mistakes, learn from them, and move on rather than waste precious time playing politics.

Adversity. Courageous people aren’t afraid of swimming against the tide or challenging the status quo. They stare adversity in the eye — running toward the problem rather than away from it. They know that saying “no” to one idea may enable them to say “yes” to another, and that old ways of doing things shouldn’t stand in the way of a better solution.

Change Masters. Courageous people step outside their comfort zone to meet the challenges that lie ahead. They know that change is part of life and that some of the greatest advances have been realized by embracing change.

Embrace the Unknown. Courageous people follow their intuition. If information required to make a good decision isn’t available, they follow their instincts.

Action. Courageous people put their money where their mouth is. They know that it’s not enough to talk about doing something –– instead, they act.

Frank is an award-winning author. He has written five books and over 300 articles. Frank was recently named one of “America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders” and nominated as one of “America’s Most Influential Small Business Experts.” Frank has served on several boards and has consulted to some of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Additionally, FrankSonnenbergOnline was named among the “Best 21st Century Leadership Blogs.” Frank’s new book, BookSmart: Hundreds of real-world lessons for success and happiness, was released November, 2016. © 2016 Frank Sonnenberg. All rights reserved.

Click here for more information on character education.

With thousands of books to choose from, it can be an overwhelming task to find books to help teach courage. Here’s a few book suggestions to start those conversations.

Sheila Rae, The Brave by Kevin Henkes
Best for: Grades PreK-2
ISBN-10: 0688147380

ISBN-13: 978-0688147389

“I am very brave,” Sheila Rae said, patting herself on the back. She wasn’t afraid of anything—not thunder, not lightning, not the big black dog at the end of the block. And when she wanted to walk home a new way and Louise wouldn’t, she called her sister a scaredy-cat and set out alone. But all the bravado in the world failed to help when Sheila Rae found herself lost. Luckily, her sister was not far behind.
View on Amazon

The Wildest Brother by Cornelia Funke

Best for: Grades PreK-3

ISBN-10: 0439828627

ISBN-13: 978-0439828628

Brave as a lion, strong as an elephant, Ben is a fearless young boy. When it comes to protecting his big sister, Anna, nothing can stand in his way! Gallantly he spends his day battling moldy green ghosts, slime-belching monsters, and all sorts of ferocious beasts. But when the day is over and darkness falls, Ben suddenly doesn’t feel quite so brave. Sometimes, he realizes, it’s the big sister who does the protecting.
View on Amazon     View on Scholastic

I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem by Jamie Lee Curtis 

Best for: Grades PreK-3

ISBN-10: 0060287616

ISBN-13: 978-0060287610

Celebrate liking yourself! Through alternating points of view, a girl’s and a boy’s, Jamie Lee Curtis’s triumphant text and Laura Cornell’s lively artwork show kids that the key to feeling good is liking yourself because you are you.

View on Amazon     View on Scholastic

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine

Best for: Grades PreK-5

ISBN-10: 043977733X

ISBN-13: 978-0439777339

Henry Brown doesn’t know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves’ birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday — his first day of freedom.

View on Amazon     View on Scholastic

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

Best for: Grades 2-5

ISBN-10: 0439472261

ISBN-13: 978-0439472265

The year is 1960, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. When a judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school, Ruby must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her.

View on Amazon     View on Scholastic

Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker

Best for: Grades 3-5

ISBN-10: 0439301815

ISBN-13: 978-0439301817

Stuart’s got problems. It’s raining. He’s bored. And worst of all, he’s new in town, so he’s got a lot to worry about. But what does a kid like Stuart need in order to have an adventure…and to stop worrying? A cape, of course! Sara Pennypacker’s story captures the daily dilemmas that every child must face. Her words are perfectly complimented by illustrator Martin Matje’s combination of weirdness and wit.

View on Amazon     View on Scholastic

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

Best for: Grades 3-7

ISBN-10: 0064410323

ISBN-13: 978-0064410328

Thirteen-year-old Sophie hears the sea calling, promising adventure and a chance for discovery as she sets sail for England with her three uncles and two cousins. Sophie’s cousin Cody isn’t sure he has the strength to prove himself to the crew and to his father. Through Sophie’s and Cody’s travel logs, we hear stories of the past and the daily challenges of surviving at sea as The Wanderer sails toward its destination—and its passengers search for their places in the world.

View on Amazon

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 

Best for: Grades 5-7

ISBN-10: 0547577095

ISBN-13: 978-0547577098

As the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.

View on Amazon

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli 

Best for: Grades 6-8

ISBN-10: 0064405788

ISBN-13: 978-0064405782

Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he’s dreaded the day he turns ten — the day he’ll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he’ll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn’t want to be a wringer. It’s one of the first things he learned about himself and it’s one of the biggest things he has to hide. In Palmer’s town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son. Palmer can’t stop himself from being a wringer just like he can’t stop himself from growing one year older, just like he can’t stand up to a whole town — right? Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli’s most powerful novel yet is a gripping tale of how one boy learns how not to be afraid.

View on Amazon

Click here for more information on character education.

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