The good is the valued center of a given communication ethic—what is most important and held in highest regard finds protection and promotion in our communicative practices.
(Arnett, Fritz, & Bell, 2009, p. 3)
What are the “goods” in my life? I certainly know what I like and don’t like about my life right now, but these goods are a lot harder to consider. What things do I do to promote my deepest wants and desires? I decided to think of some values that I strive for on a daily basis. Here’s what I came up with:
Perseverance
In a lot of my work, I pride myself on committing to projects and seeing them through to the end. And if an idea is not worth committing to, it still needs to be considered in one way or another. I’m a bit perfectionistic too, so it helps me to know that I’ve given the appropriate consideration to every idea I’ve had or been presented with.
This perseverance and sense of commitment also push me to give it my all in many cases. In Communication Fluency, my last class, I ended up writing 4600 words on a paper that I originally thought wouldn’t be more than 2000. While part of me says I went a bit overboard, I also feel that the topic warranted that massive amount of writing.
Integrity
I’ve been taught that integrity is doing what you feel is right, and I value this sense of morality. There’s no doubt it influences a lot of my decisions. I might hold my tongue when I’m about to say something unkind, or I might refrain from honking at someone for cutting me off. These actions protect and promote my sense of morality.
If I disagree with my boss, for example, my integrity tells me to confront him about it. My self-confidence, however, might not always feel the same. Nonetheless, this strong sense of right and wrong governs a lot of my decisions. Furthermore, it prompts me to always consider if my rights and wrongs are still relevant and appropriate.
Openness
I’ve learned that an open mind is key, in both life and education. More often than not, our ideals will be contradicted. I believe that learning from this contradiction is more appropriate than denying its existence. We all see this world differently, and—for the most part—the world is better for it!
As a member of the LGBT community, I find this open-minded lifestyle infiltrating more of my life on a regular basis. Being different in this way has made me more open-minded to things aside from sexuality and gender. I want to learn from others and use that opportunity to spread this same openness to as many people as possible.
References:
- Arnett, R. C., Fritz, J. M., & Bell, L. M. (2009). Communication ethics literacy: Dialogue and difference. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
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