Selfless Service - Put welfare of nation, Army, and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service leads to organizational teamwork and encompasses discipline, self-control and faith in system.

Take care of your children, your parents, your siblings, and co-workers. Go ‘extra mile’ for your customers and clients, even if gains you nothing more than some personal satisfaction. Volunteer to take on tough job, or mundane job that others avoid.

Honor - Live up to all Army values.

Live up to values of your business, your community, your church, your family. Act accordingly, and others will recognize you as an individual of principled character. Don't fall into trap of, "but I just did what others did before me". Given choice, take 'high road'. Distinguish yourself from those who would be satisfied to do less.

Integrity - Do what is right, legally and morally.

Ask yourself, “Is this right thing to do? How does it reflect on who I am?” If your inner voice is sounding alarm, it’s doing so for a good reason. Avoid shortcuts, cheats, or otherwise doing less than what is expected. Don’t compromise yourself, your friends, family or business for some short-term satisfaction. Integrity offers long-term rewards that can't be acquired any other way.

Personal Courage - Face fear, danger, or adversity with physical and moral courage.

Is a boss asking you to do something questionable? Watched local bully pick on someone repeatedly? Been in a group that disparages a certain race or ethnicity? It may be safer to go along with crowd, or do nothing at all. It takes inner strength to stand up to peer pressure, bullies, social challenges, and moral dilemmas. It’s easy to be a follower…anyone can do that. True leadership requires all of one’s audacity, nerve and 'guts' to negotiate difficult roads that lie before us.

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. These are values for everyone. No, they're not always easy to live up. Our standards are challenged all time. We make mistakes. Hopefully, we learn from them, and over time, these values become a part of who we are.

The best news is that if we emulate these values singularly, we become a better people collectively. And that is why values are so important. They set us apart from those who choose not to live up to them.

Joseph Yakel is Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the US Army, a freelance writer, and author of three books. His articles have appeared in numerous publications and Internet websites. Free chapter previews of his books are available at: http://www.lulu.com/yakel

So what would happen if you stopped playing it safe, just for a little while? How would your creativity blossom and grow? In our art, at least, we can explore with safety. We can stretch ourselves beyond what we thought we could do. These are just paint smears on canvas, or electrons on a screen, or a series of moves set to music. We can paint over it or delete file or change steps if we get too scared.

I challenge you to use your art, your creativity, whatever your outlet, to deepen your knowledge of yourself. This next month, start noticing where you play it safe in your art. Notice where you back off, instead of pushing forward, where you tiptoe timidly instead of striding forth boldly. Notice what you approach with caution, rather than with curiosity and adventure.

Then throw that caution to winds, and take that risk! See how much richer your art becomes.

And – your life.

NOTE: You are welcome to use this article online in electronic newsletters and e-zines as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including "about author" info). If use of this article is desired in print, you must first contact Lynn Cutts at Lynn@ManageYourMuse.com.

Copyright 2005 Lynn Cutts