"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be"

Living with honor means being true to the values and qualities you admire. It’s about matching your actions with your inner beliefs—the person you wish to be and the person you display to the world should be one and the same.

Now, think back to when this idea was probably at the forefront. This quote is attributed to Socrates, the classical Greek philosopher who was all about questioning and examining life to find truth and virtue. He lived in a time when the concept of honor was incredibly significant, much more so than it might seem today. To Socrates, and many people of his era, living with honor was about aligning your actions with the virtues you claimed to hold dear.

Let's bring it closer to home with a real-life example. Picture a manager at work who always talks about the importance of teamwork and transparency. If she truly embodies these values, she would regularly seek input from her team and be open about the company's challenges and successes. She wouldn't just say, "My door is always open," but would actually foster an environment where her team feels comfortable coming to her with ideas or problems. When her actions align with her words, her team trusts and respects her more.

So, how do you apply this in your own life? Start by identifying the qualities you admire and pretend to embody. Do you value kindness, honesty, or perseverance? Take small steps to align your daily actions with these qualities. If you value honesty, for example, make an effort to be candid even when it's difficult. Each time you face a choice, ask yourself, "What would the best version of me do?" It’s a way to check yourself and make sure you're being the person you aspire to be.

Think of a relatable scenario: You're at a casual dinner with friends, and an old, controversial topic comes up. It's tempting to say what you think they want to hear to avoid conflict. But if you value authenticity and integrity, you’ll share your true thoughts respectfully. By doing this, you might find that your friends respect your honesty—even if they disagree—because you’re being genuine.

Living with honor isn't about perfection. It’s about striving to be truthful with ourselves and others, and that’s something we can all relate to. We all have moments where we fall short of our ideals, but the goal is to keep trying. Being authentic might be challenging, especially when it’s easier to hide behind a facade. But in the end, aligning who we are with who we want to be builds genuine respect and trust—both from ourselves and from those around us.

So next time you catch yourself pretending, pause. Ask if your actions reflect the person you truly want to be. If they don't, don't beat yourself up—just adjust course. It's a journey, and every step you take towards authenticity is a step towards living with honor.