I think one of the most important things I learned from my parents is how important is is to do the right thing, especially, when no one is looking. When you do good things when no one is looking, when no one will ever know, and without the need to tell everyone you run into about it, a strange thing starts to happen. You start to feel good about and value yourself and not require validation from any exterior relationship or force. If you are able to gain happiness and value from within and not from any exterior relationship or force, you are less likely to be able to be manipulated in negative ways.