What is Character?

Character is the result of hundreds; maybe thousands of choices that you make, gradually transforming who you are at a given moment into who you want to be. Should this decision making process not be present, you still are somebody. You shall still be alive, but with a personality as opposed to a character.

Character is not something with which you are born, and you cannot change it like you would change your name.  The truth is that since you were not born with it, it is ultimately your responsibility to create it.  I do not believe that adversity builds character on its own, nor do I believe that a successful life erodes it.  Character is simply built by how you respond to situations, experiences and events that have taken place and will inevitably occur throughout your life.

Whether you win every game that you play, or even if you unfortunately lose.  Becoming wealthy or dealing with hard financial times.  You build character out of the certain qualities you are responsible for creating and diligently nurture within yourself.  Just as you would plant and water a seed so that it grows into a beautiful flower or plant, or whether you build something from scratch.  These are the things within your heart that you need to look for.  You have to chisel away to find such qualities, just as a sculptor chisels away at rock to create the magnificent sculpture that only previously existed in his/her imagination.

Do you realise the amazing part about character?  If you are sincerely committed to building yourself into the person you want to be, you will not only create these qualities but will continually strengthen them to continuously improve and become better.  Character sustains and nurtures itself even while being put to work, being tested, being challenged as well as being confronted with choices.  But once character is formed; it will serve as a solid and lasting foundation upon which you can build the life that you desire.

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