Module 1: The Search For The Fatal Flaw
“A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most.” ― George Bernard Shaw
Hieronymus Bosch- The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things
Module Description
If each of us that the potential to do good and bad, we should understand the nature of the bad in hopes that we can prevent this from occurring. In other words, assuming free will (a big assumption), you will choose what path you travel down. Just as important, is your ability to recognize pathologies in others. In this case, we are going to focus on traits and behaviors, the kind of thing you can observe in yourself and see in others.
In this module, you will do what very few people do — document your flaws. For example, if you ask the average person what their top ten weaknesses are, they would look confused, the offended before going into denial that they have any flaws at all. Or perhaps they will give you a fake one—the kind of thing that you would do if you were in an interview.
The search for the fatal flaw is a characteristics that will cause you no end of grief if you do not take care of it.
"Power Corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." — Lord Acton. Said in 1887, these words still ring true today. But you should also understand that, money corrupts just as much as power.
Learning Objectives
Level I: Knowledge and Understanding
- Identify the definitions of the seven deadly sins.
- Understand how Allport defined the different category of personality traits.
- Discover the Big Five personality traits
Level II: Skill Development
- Capture your "bad" personality traits..
- Document your top sins and explain why these are a problem.
- Document insights into emotions/states of mind that are considered to be weaknesses.
Module 2: Evolve Your self — Define Your Virtues
"Virtues are not just about ethics, morals and character, they are the habits of great men and woman. But before you can develop them, you have to define them." — M. Johannsen
Image from the ceiling from the Sistine Chapel. Painting by Michelangelo
“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” ― Elizabeth Taylor
Module Description
Most people, that vast majority I belief, never ask themselves what they should be, what they should become by the time they check out of life. Sure, everyone focus on money and having lots of it, but very few focus on this issues of the character. Do you want be kind? Or is this unimportant. How about creative? Or resilient? or Optimistic? It seems strange that we would spend more time on our taxes in a year than we would what kind of person we should be. In this section, you will put together a profile for your "Ideal Self."
Learning Objectives
Level I: Knowledge and Understanding
- Understand the nature of the ideal self.
- Know the nature of moral virtues as defined by the Catholic Church
- Know that there are competitive traits helpful in sports
- Identify traits commonly associated with great leadership
Level II: Skill Development
- Define a set of future roles you would like to play on the stage of life.
- Evaluate what set of virtues will help you to play your next to rooms.
“Virtues are too difficult,” I told him, shaking my head. “Look how old you are and you’ve hardly made a dent in them. I’ll admit, you seem to have zeal nailed, as well as faith and temperance. Self control? I’ve got my doubts based on your recent actions. I’m not seeing the kindness, love or generosity, either. That humility thing seems to be pretty far beyond your reach, too. Really, really far. I’m sorry to tell you this, but from what I can see, the sin of pride is a major component of your character. Dude, you’re old. You should have these things pretty well ticked off your shopping list by now. I’m seriously disappointed. Seriously.”
― Debra Dunbar, A Demon Bound
Module 4: Define Your Plan For Virtue Development Take Action
"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor, 121-180 AD.
Image taken by: Murray Johannsen
“Where we stand in times of controversy is a measure of our character,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson, an Apple shareholder who attended the meeting. “Some leaders only follow opinion polls. Others stand up for their principles, refuse to compromise, and mold opinion. We have such a leader of Apple, Tim Cook.” Benner, (2016) Apple Shareholders Show Their Support for Tim Cook, New York Times, Feb 25..
Module Description
Once you know your starting point and your destination, you still have to get from here to there. And this frankly, is the hard part. It's easy to come up with the map, it's hard to walk down the path. For what you are striving to do is reduce your bad behaviors, flaws and sins and substitute a better set of behaviors which we call the virtues.
Unfortunately, this is not like taking a class, which you will only due once. You will have to practice many times. And you will find that sometimes you take a step forward, you will take a step back and it seems like you are standing in place. Don't worry about it.
Learning Objectives
Level I: Knowledge and Understanding
- Understand the nature of procrastination
- Understand why few have strong self-control and will-power to resist temptations
- Discover how Ben Franklin was able to develop his virtues
Level II: Skills Development
- Practice using the same technique as Ben Franklin Technique to develop your virtues.
- Develop a combination of techniques to mentally practice developing one virtue that is not being used.
Other Skills To Develop
- Reflection
- Insight
- Self-Control
“Don't make another's pain the source of your own happiness.” ― Mark Frost, The Paladin Prophecy
MODULE 5: TAKE ACTION PRACTICE FOR 3 WEEKS
This is just like taking a regular on-line class at a university. The focus in on expertise, knowing and understanding.
Sign-up and then wait for more information. If a particular class doesn’t have enough members to be run, you can ask for your money back or choose another type of delivery option on this page. Start with others in the class.
If a particular class doesn’t have enough members to be run, you get your money back or choose another type of delivery option on this page. This class runs on a cycle of one-module a week; which includes exercises and application assignments.
Bonus MODULE: YOU’RE GOOD AND YOU’RE BAD: THE PARADOX OF YOUR MIND
"Everybody has good and bad forces working with them, against them, and within them.” ― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
“The insufferable arrogance of human beings to think that Nature was made solely for their benefit, as if it was conceivable that the sun had been set afire merely to ripen men's apples and head their cabbages.” — Cyrano De Bergerac
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” — George Washington
Antonio Canova (1757–1822) Justice. Image by: Fondazione Cariplo
Module Description
The Ego, as the primary part of the mind that deals with realty, also has some characteristics that prevent it from achieving happiness. This session looks at a number of these limitations.
Freud was the first Western psychologist to point out the Ego was wrapped in a cocoon of largely unconscious mechanisms that protect—the way a blanket protects a baby. However, in adults, these Ego defense mechanisms filter and distort realty in ways that prevent the Ego from dealing with anxiety and dangerous truths. And so the Ego stays immature--often entering a state of arrested development.
Learning Objectives
Level I: Knowledge and Understanding
- Understand the major flaws associated with human nature.
- Know the common model used in Western psychology for the nature of of your mind.
Level II: Skills Development
- Develop the insight to discover your flaws and search for the Fatal Flaw
- Document your flaws as they exist.
- Develop the insight to know what will make you virtuous
- Develop the self-discipline to be able to develop a virtue.
Key Concepts
- Morality and Ethics
- The Ego and The Unconscious
- Jung" Shadow
- Karma
- Postive
- Negative
- Self-deception and Cognitive bias
- Ego (Neurotic) Ego Defense Mechanisms
