Living a purposeful life means knowing how to build character. But how do you do this? The process takes time, but these simple tips can help.
“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” – Cavett Robert.
It’s Easier to Build Character with These Simple Tips
If your goal is to build character, where do you start? Character is one of the most prized attributes. Others include courage, compassion, wisdom, humility, and love. But what is character, and how do you know if you have it? Importantly, how do you build character?
What is Character?
Let’s start by defining character. Furthermore, is there good character and bad character, or just character?
In literature, a man or a woman of “good character” is a common descriptor. Besides, isn’t this something to strive for in our own lives? After all, you want to live your best life.
However, the definition of character is more nuanced than this.
- To me, character means living up to your word. It’s saying what you mean and doing what you say. That’s also integrity, which I believe is a strong component of character. Besides, you can also learn how to develop integrity.
- Character is also sticking with your decision. You do this even when it’s unpopular, difficult, likely to fail, or costs you a lot. However, if you have character, you don’t do something because it’s expedient or for personal gain. You do it.
I guess that’s where the comment about pushing for the “good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed” comes in. Who can argue with that?
What Is the Danger of Overcommitting When Trying to Build Character?
Let’s be honest. Isn’t it true that many people get swept up in the moment and promise to do things they fail to complete? It’s easy to overcommit in the midst of this emotion. So, isn’t it better to keep quiet and not boast about something you’ll never do?
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey.
- However, you’re only human. Therefore, you want to do good things. Besides, you want to be respected and admired, to make a difference in the world.
- Yet men and women of character go about their deeds without much fanfare. They don’t seek recognition. Furthermore, they don’t need to puff themselves up to feel good about themselves.
How Does Self-Esteem Help?
Not that you don’t need a boost to your self-esteem now and then. Surely, even those with character want that. They get it from within, because of cumulative good works.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt.
Perhaps the desire to have character helps develop it. If so, anyone who feels they’re lacking in the trait has some hope of getting there. You can learn how to build character.
To Build Character, Does It Help to Keep Working on Self-Improvement?
The way I see it, there’s always today to get busy working on self-improvement. Yet the concentration shouldn’t be internal. It must be external. But does this sound paradoxical? However, it’s what you do that raises or lowers your self-esteem, self-confidence, and, yes, character. Besides, improving yourself helps boost your self-worth.
- And it’s what you do when there’s absolute silence and no one else around to applaud your efforts.
- It also feels good to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what.
To sum up my feelings on character, everyone has it. They may have to discover it, definitely need to nurture it, and regard it as a precious part of being human. So, if you want to build character, the best way to do that is to begin.
