I've heard it said that playing sports builds character. I believe playing sports reveals character. A recent article on golfing executives stated 80 per cent of executives cheat on their score. Their reason was, "Everyone else does it." Is that building or revealing character.
Character is best described by who you are. It is determined more by what you do and not by what you say you'll do. It is determined more by your consistency of behavior rather than by your sporadic behaviors. It is determined more by your emotional control than by your emotional outbreaks.
Character is like knowing the sun is going to rise in the morning and set in the evening. It's like knowing the oceans tide is going to rise and fall. It's like knowing that the seasons are going to change annually. Lack of character is just the opposite - it's never being sure what to expect.
People of high character are sure about who they are, what is important to them and what they want in their relationships. Because they are often assertive they will also be clear about what is important to them and willing to negotiate in some areas and not in others.
Everything you do matters. People judge you more by what you do than by what you say you'll do. You are what you read, what you listen to, who you listen to and what you do. Your actions are louder than words. People like and trust people that are consistent in their actions and consistency of action comes from knowing who you are and what you stand for. This determines your character.
How do you determine and improve you character? Do what Benjamin Franklin did. Determine the values you would like to improve and work on each value daily. In other words act like the person you would like to be until you become that person.
A good starting point to improving your character is to determine what your key values are. It'll be worth it. You'll know who you are and what you stand for. It's said that if you don't stand for something then you'll fall for anything. Personal strategic planning begins with your determining what it is you believe in and stand for-your values. Your values are the principles and beliefs of your character. Values
determine your boundaries (what you like and dislike in others) and your
decision-making criteria (those criteria we consciously or unconsciously
use) to make a decision. Character is what allows some people to say and do things and maintain the respect of others even though that person might not like what you have to say or do.
What does it take to be of high character? It takes personal insight and awareness. Ask yourself what does it take to be a good friend, a good family person or a good colleague at work? Think about relationships past and present and determine why they worked when they worked and why they didn't once they stopped working.
Your values are always expressed in your actions especially when you're under stress. Think about times when you were under stress and re-examine the choices you made. The choices you've made will demonstrate you most important values and these actins are what determine your character in others eyes.
Values are what we value and that makes them valuable to us. Values clarification is the start of developing self-confidence, self-esteem and inner personal strength. Higher order values (trust, respect, empathy.) are most important in relationships and need to be the ones you strive for.
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