Character Does Matter (CDM)

I have the privilege of starting a new role as a CDM mentor for youth working with the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF). ?Their goal with this program is to “strengthen America’s national character” beginning with the youth. TMF believes everyone possesses a unique combination of strengths, values, and passions. These make us who we are. To become the best versions of ourselves we must:

·??????Look Inward – Identify our personal character strengths

·??????Look Outward – Use our strengths to serve others

As I was preparing my inaugural slide deck for TMF leadership review, I was struck by how little I pay attention to the qualities of my own character. If you are like me, you sort of float on default mode when it comes to who you are at the core. I want to be more intentional with who I am becoming, not just ‘drift’ my way toward some less than optimal destination.

In the spirit of sharing, I would like to publish a series of articles about the individual character qualities drawing from TMF materials and from my own knowledge and experience. Here is the complete list (alphabetical) and short descriptions of these character qualities:

1. APPRECIATION OF BEAUTY - DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM BEAUTY AND EXCELLENCE
2. BRAVERY - STANDING FIRM IN A PERSONAL VALUE, DESPITE OPPOSITION
3. CREATIVITY - IMAGINING NEW AND UNIQUE WAYS OF THINKING OR DOING THINGS
4. CURIOSITY - BEING OPEN TO EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
5. FAIRNESS - PROMOTING JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
6. FORGIVENESS - BEING ACCEPTING OF PEOPLE’S FAULTS OR MISTAKES
7. GRATITUDE - BEING THANKFUL FOR GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
8. HONESTY - BEING GENUINE AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE’S ACTIONS
9. HOPE - EXPECTING THE BEST AND WORKING TOWARD IT
10. HUMILITY - BEING MODEST ABOUT ONE’S OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
11. HUMOR - ENJOYING MAKING OTHERS SMILE OR LAUGH
12. JUDGMENT - EXAMINING ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION
13. KINDNESS - TAKING CARE OF OTHERS; BEING CARING, GENEROUS, AND CONSIDERATE
14. LEADERSHIP - MOTIVATING A GROUP TO ACHIEVE A GOAL
15. LOVE OF LEARNING - ALWAYS ADDING TO ONE’S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
16. LOVE - VALUING INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
17. PERSPECTIVE - HAVING A THOUGHTFUL POINT OF VIEW THAT OTHERS SEEK OUT
18. PERSEVERANCE - FINISHING WHAT YOU START, DESPITE OBSTACLES AND SETBACKS
19. PRUDENCE - CONSIDERING OUTCOMES AND RISKS CAREFULLY BEFORE ACTING OR SPEAKING
20. SELF-REGULATION - BEING MINDFUL OF AND RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE’S EMOTIONS AND ACTIONS
21. SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE - UNDERSTANDING WHAT MAKES OTHER PEOPLE TICK
22. SPIRITUALITY - BELIEVING IN ONE’S PURPOSE IN LIFE AND PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
23. TEAMWORK - COOPERATING WITH OTHERS TOWARD A COMMON GOAL
24. ZEST - APPROACHING LIFE AS AN ADVENTURE, WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM?

An ask: as I will be presenting these same concepts to groups of teens and young adults, I would love to hear your thoughts and anecdotes to enrich the content. Feel free to comment in this post or send me a note on messenger or at [email protected]

Thanks and I hope you find this of value!