BUILD ON YOUR CHARACTER

BUILD ON YOUR CHARACTER

It was Froude who said that “You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” Character is what makes a man. Any person without character can be seen as dead while still walking about. It is achieved and not received. Characters grow out of the substance of a man's soul. By this, it means that you cultivate it. You work to earn it. You cannot develop a good character when you are not ready to make any sacrifice.

Any person without character is like chaff. Someone may be rich, educated, wealthy, beautiful or handsome but if character and good one at that, lacks in the life of that person, he is seen in the society as nuisance. His presence in any gathering irritates people. Such person finds it hard to relate well with others. His character will drive people away as they will abandon him and his wealth. There is this saying that “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost!” – Anonymous.  

In this respect, it is expedient that we should understand what character is all about and the best way to maintain a good character that will make others come to us and not to run away from us. Character is distinctive and positive qualities. It is also somebody’s reputation. Building a good character, matters so much. It involves self discipline, determination, self denial and dedication to our call and duty. In doing this, you should be willing to choose between a good name, and wealth. In building our character, we must be willing to put away self, we should be open to understanding the views of other people. If and where possible, we should give up our rights to enable us draw people closer to ourselves.

In building a good reputation, evil people will despise you; they may abuse you and misunderstand you in many ways. However, in all these, you should bear whatever comes out of the process because you have an aim, a goal and a target. The reputation Jesus Christ made gave Him a name above every other name. You can do something that will take you to the pinnacle of the social strata with good character but not wealth because they are people who died and nobody cries for them, while some others, though not rich but their reputation made them heroes of their generation.     

It is somewhat ridiculous for some people to think that the wealth they have acquired their beauty, being handsome or educated can make people like them or come to them. Therefore, we owe not only to ourselves but the society at large the duty to build a good character and reputation as that is the way the blessings we have can be of any help to other people around us.