Character Motivates You To Do The Right Thing

Character is the most important of all the virtues. But it requires courage, honesty and loyalty to oneself.  Only with a strong character can we sleep with a clear conscience and always do the right thing. Not what is easiest or what others want us to do. Therefore, it is an amazing mental attitude and the essence of our  personality.

We often hear someone say, and a little carelessly sometimes, we have to admit that it and it have no character and it and its character are too intense. And others say that character is what really attracts people instead of their looks. This leads us to the conclusion that  we are looking at a very relevant aspect of what it means to be human. And that we categorize other people. 

People typically think that character and personality are the same. It does not quite fit. In psychology, character forms part of the basis of personality along with temperament and traits. In fact, there are many psychologists who are dedicated to studying this interesting part of our personality. They explain that it has a great influence on the rest of the psychological dimensions. 

In other words, character is the fifth essence of our being. 

Character is our educated will

We all have strong aspects of our personality. Our inner values ​​strengthen us when we need it most.  But where do they come from? How is this fascinating psychological craft built? We would go so far as to say that it is a complex combination of our genes, surroundings and the result of our  experiences. Many people would define it that way. But there is something even more inspiring and uplifting behind the story.

Character is also a personal choice, an accumulated strength that helps us finally dare to respond. It helps us to appreciate our essence and individuality. It guides us in what is right and wrong in every moment and how we should act. Aristotle once said that character is where moral responsibility and personal desire work together. When combined, they should have only one purpose: to act with dignity in relation to the right. Only then can we ensure our dignity, integrity and well-being for society.

The three pillars of the character

We want to emphasize that we are all responsible for our own character. The authors and experts in the field, Renne Le Senne and Gaston Berger, say  that it has not been fully developed in either childhood or adolescence. In fact, this complex force develops that shapes our values, emotions, and attitudes over time.

Therefore, we can always do something about our rough edges and frayed character traits to better handle our everyday lives.

The same authors emphasize that our character is shaped in terms of how we interpret, handle, or prepare for three concrete factors. Let’s take a closer look at it.

Empathy

Empathy refers to our ability to create certain emotions when we receive certain stimulants. It also shapes our sensitivity and how we respond to the feelings of others. One characteristic of this factor is that  we do not all react equally to the same things. It is also the difference, the nuance, that shapes our character. 

Some people have cold personalities and cannot respond to the pain of others. There are also more sensitive people who would not hesitate to risk their own lives to save others.

Activity

We all act according to our values ​​and principles, which we have made our own. But despite this, and this is the most interesting aspect of our character,  not everyone has the ability to react to something that we consider to be unfair or that goes against our values. 

For example, if I work in a restaurant where there is a lot of food left over, then I will do what I can so that the food does not smoke in the trash. I want to make sure those who need the food get it. But there are also people who choose to do nothing. They look around and try not to attract attention. They limit themselves to doing what everyone else does. Even though they know it’s not right.

Resonance

The last factor to understand how character is shaped is resonance. Resonance is about the time it takes us to react when we see or experience certain things. For example, I just got out of an addictive and unhappy relationship. After a few months, I met someone with the same toxic personality as my former partner.

There are people with low resonance who can not interpret or react in relation to previous experiences. They do not learn anything from the past. So they end up making the same mistakes over and over again. They are dragged along and do not actively work to create a more dignified, strong and healthy character.

To conclude, character is our most valuable attribute. Thanks to our character, we can keep our balance when we face resistance. It helps us get out of bed every day with a stronger, braver attitude. We become more ready to do what we think is right.

We should invest all our energy in building our character so that we can be free and, most importantly, happier.