Character Building: Having a Heart of Gold and a Mind of Steel

Emmanuel-Adeosun Blog Post: Character Building

Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success—John Hays Hammond

Character has proven to be the foundation on which our entire life is based. Men of good character have been remarkably successful. Be it Mahatma Gandhi of India, Nelson Mandela of South Africa or Mother Theresa , they all had one thing in common- they were individuals of good character. Qualities like honesty, integrity, dependability, diligence, loyalty, compassion, sincerity, attentiveness, determination, confidence, etc makes up one’s character.

Our Character describes who we are and who we will become.

Having a good character might involve lots of qualities but the good news is these qualities are interrelated. For instance If you’re honest, you’ll automatically be more responsible, more dependable and more trustworthy. People often tend to underrate the effect our character has on our success or failure in life. If you are kind hearted and compassionate, people will cling to you and you’ll discover that blessings and good-will comes to you.

Many desire to be in a relationship with a partner who has a good character but often times they do not even possess it.

We often admire loyal and trustworthy people but we never see the times where speaking the truth makes them vulnerable, yet they speak the truth whatever the result may be because, it is the right thing to do.

I must say that character building takes time and the road is not often easy. Just like Abraham Lincoln in my previous blog on Greatness, the strength of his character was tested and tried with lots of painful experiences. (Read Lincoln the Unknown by Dale Carnegie)

That being said, if you want to possess a good character, a heart of Gold you have to take the pain to build anyway!

Consider this poem given to Bishop Able Muzore by a friend during a critical period in his life:

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered—love them anyway!

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives—do good anyway!

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies—succeed anyway!

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow—do good anyway!

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable—be honest and frank anyway!

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds—think big anyway!

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs—fight for some underdog anyway!

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight—build anyway!

Give the world the best you’ve got and you’ll get kicked in the teeth—give the world the best you’ve got anyway!

Character building can be done by anyone, it is not Rocket science, it involves doing the little things that matter; helping others, doing your best, keeping your word/promise, taking responsibility, forgiveness, always telling the truth, not being discouraged, embracing simplicity,etc.

Remember these words from my blog on Fear by Lao Tzu

“Watch your actions, they become your habits”

“Watch your habits, they become your character”.

(See previous blogs, for a better understanding of today's blog).

We have seen that the best way to build a good character is by developing the right habits by, giving your best, doing your best and always doing the right thing in any situation you find yourself, no matter how hard it may be.

Remember,

Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success—John Hays Hammond