Masterful Mindsets ~ Are your actions in alignment with your character?
“The truth of your character is expressed through the choice of your actions.” ~ Steve Maraboli
Question:
Are the actions you take regularly, in all areas of your life, in alignment with the character traits you want to possess? Do you have some flawed character traits that you’d like to change? What are your best character traits? Do you know the easiest way to assess the character of someone new you meet?
Action Challenge:
Yesterday was Father’s Day… This was the first Father’s Day without my Dad. I miss him dearly. So no surprise, I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately. And yesterday was not different. I spent some quiet time in the morning, honoring him by reflecting on the life lessons and beliefs he taught me. Some of which I have since chosen to rewrite for myself but many that I’ve kept and strive to uphold daily.
He was a man of great character and his actions always reflected his character. He had integrity. He was honest, hardworking, fair, reliable, responsible, loved his family dearly – even if he didn’t completely know how to express it all the time and he always showed resilience, perseverance and humility in the face of adversity.
Thinking about him, inspired me to begin a new Masterful Mindset Series with you on Character. So for the next few weeks, please come along with me and invite others to join us, as we will be focusing on character.
Character traits are all the aspects of a person’s behavior and attitudes that make up that person’s personality. (Think “descriptive adjectives” here.) Everyone has character traits, both good and bad.
When you meet someone new, you usually look for their character traits right away. Are they kind? Are they honest? Patient? Joyful, polite, courageous. Maybe for a co-worker you’d wonder if they are hardworking, reliable, wise or responsible. You get the idea.
If you can learn to be a better judge of character, you can feel more at ease around people. When those negative character traits pop up like a red flag, you’ll know that the person you are encountering may not be someone you want to associate with. A few examples of negative character traits might be: arrogant, bossy, careless, inconsiderate, petty, rude, etc.
So how do you assess someone’s character? The easiest way… observe their behavior. Watch their actions. Look for specific traits and patterns. We all have a bad day here and there where maybe we don’t show up as our cheery selves but if you notice that a person is almost always cruel, unfriendly or deceitful for example, then proceed with caution because odds are their true character is showing. A person’s actions will tell you everything you need to know about their character. Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
My challenge for you this week is to think about your own character traits and the actions in which you express them most often. Write a list of both those you possess and those you would like to possess or get rid of. Because unlike your personality type, which many believe is difficult to impossible to change, character traits can definitely be learned and changed. Ask yourself if your actions are matching up with the character traits you want to live by. And if not, how can you change them?
NOTE: I have to give credit where credit is due… It was my husband’s idea that I write about character. He too is a man of great character. As a teacher and coach, he teaches youth about character every day. I admire him and love him for the person he is. Thanks babe!
***I want to hear from you… Share your comments below.