Character is a word that is talked about a lot both in the business and professional field. It is a reference to an individual’s personality, the individual’s unique and distinctive qualities and attributes. This is what the person is in the absence of an audience. This is what an individual sees when he places a mirror in front of him. There are many things that shape or build character, either for better or for worse. Some character traits can be reshaped and changed forever. When you are aware of some of the building blocks of his character, you will become more deliberate and intentional about building your own personality. You will be cautious and aware of what makes you the person you are. The reason behind is to make sure that your character is solid, stable and full of integrity. Your character shapes the perception of people and the association they give to your name. Your name can gain the necessary influence when you have a noble character. Your name can buy better than your cash. Your reputation counts in your dealings with humanity.
the 10 bricks
1. Your past experiences (background and education) – The things you’re headed for in life are usually the ones you grew up exposed to. You can only go as far as your exposure takes you in both good and bad behavior. I have seen many who have grown up in environments where alcohol was abused and under intense verbal and physical abuse from family members. Character traits tended to follow the same pattern even in school. I had a bully of a friend in school whose home environment was exactly how he lived his life. He valued hitting other people for fun. He became the character block of it. It goes without saying that if he was not exposed to violent behavior, he is less likely to become violent than someone who experiences it every day. Expose your children to the correct values and character traits and they will naturally grow into it.
2. The feeding of the mind (mental diet) – Your mind is the engine room of your character. You become what you think most of the time. You think about the things you feed your mind with. The mind is always hungry and serious about creating thoughts. Thoughts graduate into beliefs, actions, habits, character, and ultimately a lifestyle. We feed our mind with the things we see and read. The television programs we watch, the websites we visit, the books and magazines we read all feed the mind. Since the mind is the seedbed of character, it is vital to feed the mind the right diet. You get what you feed your mind. You can’t expect something good to come out of the trash. Trash in the mind, trash will show up in the form of personality or character. As you watch what you eat physically, watch what you feed your mind subconsciously.
3. The Advice You Entertain – It’s important to get advice from people you admire, such as mentors and heroes in your domain. Everyone needs a loved one who can speak in their lives. People you hold in high esteem and regard can easily model bad character. You can easily think it’s okay to behave a certain way because you see your mentor doing it, you see your pastor approving of it, you see all your leaders speaking well of it, your personal life coach standing up for it. Always judge the advice you receive. Is this building me up to become a better person or am I being dragged into becoming someone else I never wanted to be? You have the right to shape your own character.
4. The values you promulgate – A system of personal values is necessary in the formulation of true character. People may lecture you on good behavior, but you certainly lean towards the values you hold dear to your heart. It’s easy to judge a person’s character based on the values they uphold. Do you stand for honesty, integrity, family, etc.? Think about your value system. Usually, it will tell everyone about your character without you having to raise your voice to convince anyone. Always review your value system looking to verify the actual real tangible value you get from upholding such values. Keep in mind that you enact or create your own value system. However, it is important to bring this out in the institution of marriage because people often marry without synchronizing value systems. In the end, both parties are always surprised and think that the other party has strange priorities that lead to frustration.
5. Habits you become familiar with – Those seemingly small things that you do naturally when no one is looking are building your character. When there is an audience, people tend to show up, adapt their actions, observe habits, and even observe their own words for that period. That is perception or reputation management. It catches the same person off guard, singing explicit lyrics and doing the unimaginable. That is the actual person, not what you see advertised. Those little matching clothes are strong bricks that build your character. You easily become familiar with something you do regularly. Take inventory of those small clothes on your own. You are the best evaluator of yourself, since you can allow yourself to be honest with yourself about it without being offended. Stand in front of the mirror and take note of those little things. Until you make the decision to change your habits, your character will be enshrined and embodied by what you do.
6. The Partnerships and Relationships you create – Every human being has an intrinsic desire to network or reach out to those around them. It is in our associations that we learn a lot about life. The advice of a friend is sometimes valued more than that of anyone else, including a relative. Friends usually have a few things in common. It is rare that people with different and diverse interests are close to each other. Friends spend time talking and playing together. It is in the process that one learns new things. What have you become since you became friends with that person? What were you before that you might otherwise have lost? When you separate from your friends, do you become someone else that you are not when you are with them? Be real.
7. Your psychosocial spiritual involvement – Your own spiritual connections have values and beliefs that they hold very close to. These are beliefs that you mix or use to formulate or align your own values. There are general character expectations that are expected of certain social or spiritual gifts. Sometimes they are governed by rules and regulations, codes of conduct, mandates, policies and procedures, etc. The condition is that for someone to be part of any social or spiritual group there is an apparent expectation that she adheres to the given expectations. There are traits and attributes that one can have in life, but as soon as someone joins the group, character expectations dictate how a member should behave in personal life.
8. Your verbal product – Your mouth has the capacity to produce the bad and the good. What you speak is something you have internalized. When you talk about something so often, you soon believe it and become it. It’s always good to think about affirmations that you read out loud over and over again until they become part of your confession and second nature. Affirmations refer to saying something that is not as if it were happening in the present. You say it while adding all the emotion and focus that goes along with it. Begin to feel that you have received what you are talking about. Create in yourself a sense of accomplishment, and as you continue with this attitude, you become what you are talking about. Total character changes for the better. Saying things like “I am a person of integrity, I am resolute and make my decisions wisely, I am compassionate and loving, I am honest with myself and others, I have great respect in my community and country…” Just move on. Write down those attitudes that you want not to talk about that you want to change.
9. Your decisions and standards you set – What you settle for in life can shape your character and attitudes. It all comes down to the choice at the end of the day. What you choose to become is generally what you start working on. You don’t become a certain type of person until you make a choice or make a decision to become that person. Elections are fundamental to forming character. We can give you all the benefits of having a certain type of character, but if you don’t have an internal acceptance, you either stay where you are or choose to become the exact opposite. Your character is formed by your exposure. Your standards are formed by your level of consciousness.
10. Your Will to Vulnerability and Responsibility – The building of good character traits occurs in a position of vulnerability and responsibility. You will only be helped to the extent that you are willing to receive the help. Excellence of character is born when you let outside parties know what you are going through in order to be assisted and set up for success. You need a responsible partner, someone who can tell you what it’s like without offending you. You have to be willing to tell the truth. Accountability settings keep information confidential, nothing goes out to third parties.