Honorific Code

The Honorific Code is a way to conduct yourself, which through time leaves few splashes. Instead, with pure intention, you leave in your wake ripples of virtue and benevolence.

It’s a communicative practice as well as a way of interacting with the world.

There are as many ways to use it as you can think of.

Here it is at its simplest … Address everyone in the highest form and treat them the same, including yourself.

That’s to say, sometimes people will try and treat you in ways other than with the highest respect… don’t let them. And sometimes you’ll want to be less than honourable in your treatment of others. Refrain yourself.

When you address people you respect, let them know. Let it shine. If you respect someone, honour them and demonstrate it in your attitude towards them.

To live by The Honorific Code, means treating everyone in this way. Ok… let’s be practical….. endeavouring to treat people in this way.

The way to get better is to practise on yourself. We can always use our own support, self-belief and self-conviction. Taking an encouraging attitude towards onself can be the biggest challenge.

We’re more likely to get support from others when we’re able to be open and vocally vulnerable about what we need.

We can practise courage everyday in the way we carry ourselves.

In every interaction, we feed the world with our emotions and intentions. What are you putting out there?

Take heart. Make it golden. Polish and shine.

When you take responsibility for all you contribute, you become a guardian of the heart.

Imagine your total emotional output into the world! Would it be intoxicating? Or mainly just toxic?!

Taking responsibility means gaining sovereignty over your decision-making… take it to the golden, reciprocal level and it becomes regal… you acquire these regal properties when you align with generative principles.

Your word acquires power of meaning. Your posture elevates. Your presence becomes nourishing.

The Honorific Code is infectious. It feels as delightful to give as it does to receive. When you give that kind of respect to someone, it’s not out of obligation they’ll return it. It’s often out of wonder.

You know how it feels to be honoured and respected by someone’s attitude towards you??

The practise of making others feel this way, because that’s how you feel about yourself… this is The Honorific Code.

We already know the Honorific Code… we know the principles…

Golden rule – Treat others as you would have them treat you. (And the corollorary… treat yourself as you would have others treat you!)

12 virtues of Aristotle

1) Courage – bravery and valor

2) Temperance – self-control and restraint

3) Liberality – bigheartness, charity and generosity

4) Magnificence – radiance, joie de vivre

5) Pride – self-satisfaction

6) Honor – respect, reverence, admiration

7) Good Temper – equanimity, level headedness

8) Friendliness – conviviality and sociability

9) Truthfulness – straightforwardness, frankness and candor

10) Wit – sense of humor – meaninglessness and absurdity

11) Friendship – camaraderie and companionship

12) Justice – impartiality, evenhandedness and fairness

Charlemagne’s Code of Chivalry, (adapted):

To serve your purpose in valour and faith
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give to those in need
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
To live by honour and for glory
To fight for the welfare of all
To guard the honour of fellow knights
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
To respect the honour of women
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
Never to turn the back upon a foe.

The Crusader’s Oath – to defend to his uttermost the weak, the orphan, the widow and the oppressed; he should be courteous, and women should receive his especial care.

Ubuntu – I am because you are.

Namaste – From the essence of me, to the essence of you, greetings.

To be interesting be interested.
(Also, ‘what goes around comes around’, and, ‘to those who have, more shall be given’.

Address people kindly and with the highest appropriate honorific, e.g. my Lady, sir, your honour, etc.

Apply Non-judgement.

Cradle with your attention.

Fractals… are beautiful. You’re a fractal, therefore you are beautiful.

In self and other, endeavour to be and see the best versions.

Resonate with their potential.

Honour their heritage.

Encourage their depth and breadth.

It’s a communication thing… where you demonstrate and model the quality of articulation and presence you desire from the interaction.