Here’s How…

“Character” and why is it so important?

Our character is much more than just our reputation.  Reputation is only what others see and think about us.  Our character is who we really are, even when no one is watching.  Character traits are the qualities that make us who we are. Example: Do you have the character traits of “Attentiveness”, “Alertness”, “Truthfulness”, “Sincerity”, etc.

Success or Failure Results from How We Respond to Life Situations and Circumstances

Our overall character is made up of specific individual traits, or qualities.  Each individual has a different mix of character traits. It is your character qualities, your character traits, that determine how you will respond in any given situation. Example: Should you have a strong character trait of alertness you are likely to be a better, safer, driver than a person who does not see or recognize the potential dangers around him (carelessness).  You also will be more likely to recognize opportunities when they are present.  When your character quality of truthfulness is strong, you will be more likely to accurately report the facts in a given situation than a person who tends to be characterized by deceptiveness.  Other people will then recognize you as trustworthy.

Have you ever experienced: Your best friends abandoning you? Your family abandoning you? Long term friends, members of the same church you attend, or business associates, and other acquaintances abandoning you? If you have, the chances of you surviving these horrible experiences with success are good, when you have developed strong character traits.  Strong positive character traits are great to depend on daily; whether or not your very survival depends upon how true you are to these important traits. Strong character traits have helped many people endure and overcome undesirable situations through generations.

How One Response - Determines Their Results

Success or failure in any situation depends, more than anything else, on how we respond to what we are experiencing.  It is our character that determines our success.  That doesn’t mean that “good” people will always experience more “success” than “bad” people.  There are some character traits that tend to lead to “success” and others that tend to produce “failure.”  Example: Should one have the character trait of “Alertness” this can help one to recognize new opportunities.  On the other hand, if someone is weak in the trait of “Attentiveness,” they might miss seeing things that would get them into trouble, and/or create unnecessary problems. 

HOW CAN WE STRENGTHEN CHARACTER QUALITIES WE NEED TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL?

Are you wanting more success in your life? Should we desire more success, we need to know what character qualities to develop and work on, and especially outline a plan for how to practice and strengthen such character qualities.

What are the character qualities, that make up your character?  A few very important character traits are alertness, attentiveness, discretion, self-control, thoroughness, diligence, responsibility.  There are many other important character qualities.  These are only a few we have listed below. Having a list of character traits along with their definition, allows us to focus on specific qualities in order to strengthen the “good character traits” in our lives.

Breaking character down into its basic elements also allows us to focus on developing and applying specific qualities into our lives. Example: Should we feel we need to strengthen the quality of “alertness,” we can focus on becoming more alert to what is going on around us.  As we work on strengthening specific good character qualities, our overall character should be improved, and our responses to the circumstances and situations we experience will become better.  We should have more “success” when practicing these techniques and working them into our daily actions for success.

• Alertness – Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses.
• Attentiveness – Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration.
• Availability – Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve.
• Benevolence – Giving to others basic needs without having as my motive personal reward.
• Boldness – Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right, and just.
• Cautiousness – Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions.
• Compassion – Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others.
• Contentment – Realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions.
• Creativity – Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective.
• Decisiveness – The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions.
• Deference – Limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me.
• Dependability – Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice.
• Determination – Purposing to accomplish the right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
• Diligence – Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me.
• Discernment – Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen.
• Discretion – Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences.
• Endurance – The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best.
• Enthusiasm – Expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort.
• Faith – Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how.
• Flexibility – Willingness to change plans or ideas according to the direction of my authorities.
• Forgiveness – Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge.
• Generosity – Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need.
• Gentleness – Showing consideration and personal concern for others.
• Gratefulness – Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life.
• Honor – Respecting those in leadership because of the higher authorities they represent.
• Hospitality – Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conversation to benefit others.
• Humility – Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life.
• Initiative – Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
• Joyfulness – Maintaining a good attitude, even when faced with unpleasant conditions.
• Justice – Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right, and true.
• Loyalty – Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve.
• Meekness – Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve.
• Obedience – Quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me.
• Orderliness – Arranging myself and my surroundings to achieve greater efficiency.
• Patience – Accepting a difficult situation without giving a deadline to remove it.
• Persuasiveness – Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks.
• Punctuality – Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time.
• Resourcefulness – Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard.
• Responsibility – Knowing and doing what is expected of me.
• Security– Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away.
• Self-Control – Rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right.
• Sensitivity – Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me.
• Sincerity – Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives.
• Thoroughness – Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected.
• Thriftiness – Allowing myself and others to spend only what is necessary.
• Tolerance – Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development.
• Truthfulness – Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.
• Virtue – The moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently do what is right.
• Wisdom – Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances.

Thank you for your time. We hope this information inspires positive actions and success in your life, and in the lives of your family members.

Source: Hope for Children Foundation