CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT II

PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS Series 22

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT II

Character is not inborn; it develops. Our character develops as we grow older and allow ourselves to be influenced by people, the environment and various media we are exposed to. Our character develops from our experiences.

Character is not the same as temperament.A person’s character is not the same as her temperament. While a person’s temperament is inborn, her character develops.

Character should not be confused with charisma.Charisma is personal charm that attracts people. Someone with charisma may not necessarily have moral character, because charisma and character are not the same. Charisma is like talents; it is inborn. Not everybody has charisma, but everybody can develop sound moral character. Charisma shows on a person’s appearance – how she looks and talks. Character manifests in people’s conduct – how they live.

Charisma is great, but alone it cannot influence people for good. Many people in history who had bad influence on their world had charisma but lacked moral character. Developing character is developing positive influence on people. The beauty of someone’s character is determined by the amount of good influence he has on people around him. Influencing your world is about developing sound moral character and providing good example for people to follow.

Character is not the same as reputation.Reputation is what someone is known for. Character is who he really is. Reputation is on the face; character is in the heart. Reputation is a picture about you which you want people to see. Character is your person. Reputation is a show of who you’re not while character is who you really are.

Reputation and character are always in conflict, because reputation always wants to subdue character while character always wants to manifests itself. People of sound moral character, therefore, always make themselves of no reputation so that their character can shine for all to see. They do not use reputation to cover their character. They have no need for a show since their character is actually their reputation.

How Character Develops

Our character develops from beliefs, convictions and values we have internalized over many years.These qualities have been formulated throughout our life by our responses to various influences on us. These influences include our social environment, our education, our religious affiliation, our knowledge, the media, our associates, co-workers and so forth.

Belief is an idea a person holds in his mind as truth.A system of beliefs a person holds in his mind becomes his personal philosophy. Your beliefs come from ideas you were exposed to, or developed over the years, and which you have come to receive as truth. Those ideas might be incomplete or outright false. But if you believe they are true, then they settle in your subconscious with their damaging effects.

Convictions are ideas that have become deep guiding principles to which someone has completely given himself and which to him are worth sacrificing for. Convictions are usually guiding principles.

Values are expressions of personal beliefs and convictions.Values are standards, principles and qualities on which you personally place high worth. These standards, principles and qualities determine your attitude, conduct and lifestyle. For example, if you value education your attitude to school and books will be completely opposite the attitude of someone who does not.