8 reasons being noble is important in life

In this dog-eat-dog world we’re living in, it’s not exactly so easy to be noble.

The temptation to cheat and take advantage of others can’t help but linger in the back of one’s head especially when honesty and compassion aren’t always rewarded.

But we assure you, it’s still well worth the trouble to be noble.

Here are 8 reasons why being noble is still important

1) Kindness begets kindness

There is already more than enough negativity and misery in the world. And the unpleasant truth is that people who are miserable and unhappy will spread negative energies wherever they may go.

Sometimes it’s deliberate, and that people are actively attempting to make others’ lives better because it makes them feel not as bad when they see the people around them suffering as well.

Sometimes it’s not, and people simply don’t know better. They have trauma and baggage that they pass on to others without them meaning it.

It goes without saying that unless something changes, misery will only lead to more misery. Hurt people hurt people.

And this is where nobility becomes useful.

The noble person rises beyond their circumstances and treats people with kindness and dignity.

And, sure, in doing so they might inadvertently open themselves up for abuse…but at the same time, they become catalysts for change. They break the pattern of negativity and they’re definitely a hero for it.

2) Integrity builds stability and trust

Integrity is absolutely a worthwhile virtue, even if this world we live in might seem to imply otherwise. Let us talk in terms that one can relate to in this day and age: Corporations.

A lot of corporations today “virtue signal” by saying that they stand behind and support causes such as feminism, LGBT+, and freedom of speech. Some of them are even obnoxiously loud about it.

But then if you pay close attention to their actions, you will see a disturbing trend. You’d see a company claiming to support a cause to mask their negative contributions to society.

One example is when McDonalds made “Healthy Eating” campaigns to classrooms, teaching young kids to eat their vegetables. We know very well that if they truly care, they should be the one making healthier choices…or better yet, stop advertising to children!

This sort of two-faced behavior is very much the opposite of noble, and for this reason when they assert their supposed “virtues” people aren’t inclined to trust them.

The next time you patronize a company, try to look into whether they are actually holding true to their word.

And it doesn’t matter whether you are a corporate or a private individual, exercising integrity is important if you want to build goodwill and not hostility between you and everyone else around you.

3) Independence benefits all

It’s not enough that one be a positive person with rock-solid integrity.

A truly noble person understands, exercises, and encourages independence in just about everything, but most especially independence in thought.

There’s a lot that can be lost or distorted in the game of “He said, she said” that permeates social media. And there is a lot of harm that can happen if one simply goes with what everyone else agrees with.

Let’s say you heard that you have a new neighbor move in, but just as you were about to go greet them another neighbor goes “Hey, don’t, that guy’s an asshole” and then shows you a bunch of angry, hateful tweets that the new guy had sent years ago.

It’s a shame, but most people would go “Yeah, he sounds like an asshole” and then just avoid the new guy. The tragedy here is that by not giving the new guy a chance, there is a lot you are missing out.

You’re missing out on the context behind why your new neighbor was so hateful and angry in the first place, and the changes to their person that might or might have not happened since then.

And of course, the possibility that someone out there wanted to portray the new guy in a negative light.

A noble soul would see that and, instead of following the bandwagon, decide to make their own judgment.

If the guy was indeed as bad as your other neighbor was telling you he was, then at least you came to that realization yourself. And if he wasn’t, then you’ve got a new friend.

4) Courage is needed for change

A noble person is a courageous person.

They are not one to flee from the consequences of their own actions or shift the blame on someone else. A noble person has the courage to face challenges as they come and stand up for those in need of help.

And in this world of ours, we are in dire need of people who are exactly that.

Think about women’s rights. Without those brave women who first took a stand… who were willing to bear the scorn and ire of the men who thought they should just go back to the kitchen, then perhaps until now women wouldn’t have the right to vote, much less demand equal pay.

It’s not just a thing in the past, either. Multiple corporations had been exposed recently for horrid workplace practices and cult-like behavior.

Without brave people deciding to stand for what is right against something much more powerful than they are, these abuses would have not come to light.

The world needs people who are willing to take a stand for what is right. People who are not afraid of working for social change and taking the heat so that future generations will live in a more enlightened society.

Without these noble souls, not only will our society stagnate, it will most likely begin to devolve!

5) Nobility inspires

The thing with being noble is that a noble person inspires the people around them. By being kind and genuine, a noble person sets a positive example and inspires others around them to also be kind and genuine.

By being courageous, a noble person acts as a catalyst for societal and personal change.

One could take this to mean that by being noble, one is automatically a leader. But that is not so!

You don’t have to be the leader to be an inspiration. In fact, it’s not that rare for a noble person who lacks the charisma or inclination to be a leader to instead be the personal and moral pillar of the one bearing the burden of leading.

You probably have met a couple of people like these before. People who seem entirely too timid to stand on stage, but whose presence so invigorates and inspires those around them that simply by being around, everyone else just somehow does better.

A noble person nonetheless brings the best out of others.

6) Awareness of intent keeps one grounded

A noble person lives their life with intent. They don’t wander carelessly. When they do act, they act with intent and an awareness of this intent.

At the very baseline, it means that a noble person keeps their values and principles in mind when acting, taking great care not to unwittingly betray themselves.

“But if the end result is the same, then it shouldn’t matter, right?” one might ask – but to one possessed of a noble heart, it does.

Let’s say you have money you can donate to a charity. Someone who truly cares, and whose actions are driven by a real desire to help out those in need would take the time to learn more about their options and choose the charity that deserves their money the most.

Meanwhile, someone who simply wants to appear good will most likely just choose the biggest, most influential option available.

Or let’s say you are an athlete trying to join a basketball team.

If your intent is that you want to be able to brag that you are “on the team” and want the world to know how good you are, chances are that your ability to play with your team will be hampered.

Even if subconsciously, you will be a bit more selfish than you should be in a team game… and that’s because you’re fighting for yourself and not for the team.

But if your intent is to help your team rise to new heights, then even if you lack in skill you will most likely end up being a better team player.

And a noble person — as I indicated earlier — acts with an awareness of their intent.

They don’t try to make excuses or try to be dishonest about what their true desires are. And when they know their intent is malicious or otherwise negative, they know not to act on it.

7) Owning up to one’s faults makes everyone feel better

This might sound like a shocking and revolutionary statement, but taking responsibility for one’s shortcomings makes the world a better place. It builds trust and overall makes people more willing to forgive your shortcomings.

Responsibility goes hand in hand with courage, which I had touched on earlier.

By being responsible, a noble person owns their flaws and shortcomings. They acknowledge and apologize for their mistakes, even when they might feel it’s unfair.

Let’s imagine that you’re hungry on a Friday night and you decide to go to eat out at a restaurant.

And let’s say you ordered some clam chowder and are told to wait an hour. Imagine waiting for two hours, only to get some half-burnt salad.

“This isn’t what I ordered! And how do you burn a salad in the first place?” you might complain. As is your right, of course!

And imagine if the owner himself walked up to you to tell you to shut the eff up because “It’s a damned Friday night, and I know you asked for some salad.”

So of course, you would stop visiting that restaurant, right?

And if you were especially angry that night, you might not be able to hold back and shout back at the owner. That’s how wars start, and it all hinges on them being unable to take responsibility.

Now if the owner instead said something along the lines of “My bad, we mixed your order up with the guy behind you.” then you’ll probably feel okay despite the mix-up and visit them again.

Of course, it’s impossible for anyone to be perfectly aware all the time and take responsibility for all their faults, but one should at least try.

8) Karma will bite you in the ass…in a good way

Perhaps a more selfish reason than the others discussed so far, depending on your point of view, but being noble attracts positive karma.

Now let’s say that you run a small store. You thank every person who gives you positive reviews, and you try to understand and appease those who give negative ones.

You don’t try to cheat on your customers, and you own up to your mistakes.

You’re going to end up attracting goodwill with your noble conduct.

Your intent to give good service will show in how you handle people and in the quality of the products you offer. People will talk about you to their friends, and that will draw in even more customers to you.

Now let’s say that, on the other hand, you are simply after the money, that you don’t care about whether your customers are getting their money’s worth.

You might get a bit more money in the short run by cutting corners and selling more goods faster, but your business will fall flat instead of thriving in the long run because people will talk badly about your shop.

It’s dead simple when you think about it.

Be a good person and you’ll attract good things. Be a bad person, and you’ll attract bad things.

But being noble means you’re also aware that even if you won’t get the good things, you’d do good anyway!

Conclusion

Being noble draws goodness into you and that goodness spreads outwards to the people around you.

You hold the potential to help people change for the better and keep the moral compass aloft in whatever endeavors you might involve yourself in.

And in this mad, dark world we live in, we need people of noble hearts to keep society from falling apart.

Remember that Michael Jackson song about making change?

“If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

Yep, let’s all start with the person we see in the mirror.”