HOW TO BUILD GOOD CHARACTER

Have you been wondering about making your character a better one. You are in the right place.Character is one of the few things that is uniquely yours, and it can't be forcefully snatched from you. You own it to the core.

Abraham lincoln says, "character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it, the tree is the real thing". Character can be changed either positively or otherwise, depending on the individual's choice. we humans can learn characters aside our own. We can as well dispose our character if we decide to. H. Jackson Brown noted that "we have to build character piece to piece - by thought, choice, courage, and determination".

A person, whose friends with whom he/she spends reasonable time, shares ideas or even belief, is likely to
imbibe some characters of such friends, either consciously or unconsciously. Remember the Bible says that bad communication corrupts good manners (1 Cor 15:33). Don't you also think that good relationship corrects bad manners. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. #smiles#

FACTORS THAT AFFECT CHARACTER 

• The environment you grew up.
• The kind of up-bringing you received.
• Academic and religious education you received.

HOW TO  DEVELOP GOOD CHARACTER

Step back and examine your footprints (characters). Are they exactly what you want people to see or do you think there is need for amendments? Determine what must be changed or improved in your character to align your life very close to what you want to become. Stephen R.Covey said, "... until a person can say deeply and honestly, I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday, that person cannot say, I choose otherwise".

Uphold good moral values. Fully convince yourself that life is sweeter when you are useful to yourself and society. These moral values can be summed up in love of man and love of God. A principled life leads to a happy, peaceful, prosperous and a better world. Nothing can take the place of good values. Wealth, fame, power, etc, without good moral values do not give internal happiness to the possessor.

Who do you want to be? What will you be remembered for? Wouldn't you like to be truly great, evidently successful, confidently trusted and internally happy? I guess you do. Make sure that your decisions in life are the ones that will take you closer to the actualisation of your dreams. Don't compromise your integrity because it takes many years to build a reputation but only a second to destroy it. Don't buy the slogan "if you can't beat them, you join them" because if you do, you weren't better than "them" in the first place. Strive to beat them or, at least, be a light to them.

Be honest and direct in relationships. Relationship here can be your family (spouse, children, parents and relatives), friends, colleaques in your work place, schoolmates, business associates, you name them. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Run away from backbiting and gossiping. Great people discuss ideas while low life people discuss their fellow humans. Put the interest of others first in your dealings with them. How can I please others and displease myself, you may ask? But I tell you that you will be happier when you put smiles on people's faces. Learn to make people happier than you met them and treat them in such a way that they will always dread your absence.

Covetousness hinders productivity. The time and effort one uses in desiring to own what already belongs to another are enough to build dreams or ideas to achieve such thing oneself. One thing about covetousness is that it blinds one's mind to the fact that what you can achieve in this life is only limited by your own imagination. Respect people's properties. Strive to own properties you desire in a genuine way and be contented with what you have.

It is always God. Be in good relationship with your Maker for without Him you can do nothing. Take your spiritual life very serious, afterall, man is a spirit but lives in a body.

BENEFITS OF GOOD CHARACTER

1. It helps you to actualise your dreams.
2. It ensures successful relationships. Never underestimate the power of connections.
3. It makes you trustworthy.
4. It gives you better consideration.
5. It makes you acceptable to your community.