Ethics and character are closely related. Ethics are the code or principals on which one's character depends. Ethics develop at an early age and can be instrumental to building character.

Consider Matt. He is a 13-year-old young man who is beginning his first job as a paperboy. He is excited to be able to earn his own spending money for the first time in his life. His parents have coached him about the safety issues of the job, and they spent the weekend walking him through his route. Monday evening comes and Matt is excited to begin his job.

Matt enters the printing room of the local newspaper and is greeted by the delivery supervisor. He tells Matt that he will be delivering 127 papers daily. He also tells Matt that if he runs out of papers, he should go to the local 7-Eleven store on his route, put a quarter in the outside paper box, and take as many papers as he needs from the box. “We do it all the time, son,” he tells Matt. “That's a different account, and our division is not charged for those papers. It helps us out in the long run, buddy.”

Matt is deeply concerned over what his boss has instructed him to do. He has feelings of guilt and confusion. Matt is struggling with his ethics.

Even at 13 or younger, people have a code of ethics and they know when they have gone against that code.

The Components of Ethics

Ethics have two components: belief and practice. Your beliefs and convictions are only the first part of ethics. These beliefs are rooted in your spiritual nature. You may believe that stealing is wrong. You may feel that lying is wrong or that hurting someone's feelings is unsuitable. These are beliefs.

The second part of ethics is how you act on your beliefs and convictions. Yes, stealing is wrong, but it is okay to take a few ink pens and a pack of Post-It notes home from work every week. Everyone does it. Yes, lying is wrong, but a little lie could save your job. What's the harm in that? The second part of ethics, how you practice, is the heart of ethical behavior.

Perhaps the most important word associated with ethics is betrayal. Is there a worse word or act? Ethics demand that you consider this word. When you are making a decision, evaluating whether to act or not, or when you consider the consequences of a decision or act, is there any betrayal? That one word can be your guiding force in ethical behavior.

Putting Ethics to Work

If you have concerns about whether a decision you are about to make is ethical or not, or if how you have treated someone is ethical or not, consider the following guidelines:

• Will this decision hurt your reputation or the reputation of others?

• Can you tell others about this decision or action with pride?

• Would you do it to your mother?

• Is it legal?

• Have you considered every angle and option?

• Is it right? (Yes, you do know!)

• Is it balanced and fair to others?

• Does your conscience approve?

• Have you betrayed anyone to make this decision?

These simple but important questions can help you learn to make ethical decisions that are in line with your spiritual nature. They can also help you build positive self-esteem, in that you know that you have done right by others.

Spirituality is as personal as your life itself. It contributes to the overall efforts and actions of your existence. It plays a role in your character, your beliefs, your treatment of others, and yes, in your overall self-esteem development. Spirituality is the guiding force that lets you know what is right and just in the world, and just what your part is in the master plan.