Reference: The Happiness Rundown
6. SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
There are many people one influences. The influence’s can be good or bad.
If one conducts his life to keep these recommendations, one is setting a good example.
Others around one cannot help but be influenced by this, no matter what they say.
Anyone trying to discourage you is trying to do so because they factually mean you harm or are seeking to serve their own ends. Down deep, they will respect you.
Your own survival chances will be bettered in the long run since others, influenced, will become less of a threat. There are other benefits.
Don’t discount the effect you can achieve on others simply by mentioning these things and setting a good example in your own right.
The way to happiness requires that one set a good example for others.
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Exercise
0. Make sure you have completed the exercise section at Happiness: Precept 5. Study the precept above.
1. Check the responses to the following questions for false data (see false data steps at Happiness: Prologue).
(a) “Have you been told or taught not to set a good example?”
(b) “Do you have any rules or ideas contrary to setting a good example?”
(c) “Have you been led to believe that you shouldn’t set a good example?”
(d) “Do you know of anything that conflicts with setting a good example?”
(e) “Do you have any false data about setting a good example?”
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2. Go over each of the following questions repetitively, until there are no more answers:
(a) “How have others transgressed against the precept: ‘Set a good example’?”
(b) “How have you transgressed against the precept: ‘Set a good example’?”
Do a quick review to see if you did not miss any answers on this step. You should be feeling good about this step.
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3. See if the following question definitely brings up some name you know of:
“Is there any specific person in your past who really transgressed against the precept: ‘Set a good example ’?”
If no name comes up then go to step 4. if a name has come up, then continue with step 3 as follows:
“Can you recall an exact moment when you observed ___(name)___ transgressing this precept?”
If there is a realization, go to step 4. Otherwise, continue contemplating as follows, until there is some realization.
“Is there any time when you wanted to be like ___(name)___ ?”
“Is there any time when you decided that not setting a good example was a good thing?”
“Did you ever do anything bad to ___(name)___ ? (Get all possible answers)
“Are there any differences between ___(name)___ and yourself?”
“Are there any similarities between ___(name)___ and yourself?”
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4. Handle any anomalies that come up on the following question by looking at the anomaly more closely.
”Do you have any reservations about setting a good example?”
If the anomaly does not resolve then review the precept as well as all the exercise steps above to see if anything was missed. Then do step 4 again. When there is no anomaly go to step 5.
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5. Contemplate on the following question.
“Do you have any reservations about getting someone else to set a good example?”
If any reservation comes up, then consider the following:
“How would that be a problem?”
Get answers to this question until there are no reservations.
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