Character
(8 minute read; 1565 words)
Your character reveals “who” you are and how you will act and react in the good and bad situations and circumstances of your life. For many people, their character also reveals “whose” they are in Jesus Christ; with “Christlike” character.
Your character reveals your identity and influences the performance of the important roles you play in life and the quality of life you live each day.
Character can be described as the “complete sum of all of your thoughts, attitudes and actions.”
[Think + Say + Do] = “Be”
It is your attitudes which are the defining “characteristics” that make up the “content” of your character. Character, like attitudes, is written in your heart and conscience, ingrained, firmly established and difficult to change and does not usually fluctuate back and forth. It is what you have designed it to be, intentionally or not.
You instinctively “act out” your character. It reveals your core values, your traits and behaviors which make up and distinguish you as a one-of-a-kind individual, which hopefully is all guided by a moral compass installed by the moral authority of the one true, sovereign, living, Creator God.
~Mor·al /ˈmôr(ə)l/ adjective – 1. Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character. Righteousness or unrighteousness.
Just like thoughts, attitudes and actions, character can either be good or bad, but can’t be both at the same time and can’t be anything other than good or bad and whatever else represents good and bad.
Your character must be intentionally designed by you, for you, using God’s master template as your guide, choosing just the right attitudes as the “characteristics” of your character and by making good choices and wise decisions about who you are, whose you are, who you want to be, what you want to do, how you will live your life and how you will influence those around you.
You must be careful who and what influences your character and also be careful how you influence others by your attitudes and actions… your character.
Attitude Modifiers: Defining the “Characteristics” of Your Character
An attitude modifier is an adjective for the noun “attitude;” a fill-in-the-blank attitude, a good attitude, for example. The modifiers describe and give more specific information about the attitudes which becomes the “characteristics” that shape and define the “content” of your character.
They are descriptors of how you will likely act and react in any situation or circumstance. It is imperative that you “know thy modifiers.” When you act and react as you should, it is “in- character.” When you don’t, it’s “out-of-character.”
Here are some examples of “good” attitude modifiers: a positive attitude, an optimistic attitude, an enthusiastic attitude, a good attitude, a friendly attitude, a happy attitude, a confident attitude, a respectful attitude, a Christ-like attitude, an unselfish attitude and, of course, many, many more.
The focus should be only “good” modifiers. For example: a positive” attitude. That’s what you want. The actions produced by a positive attitude “adds” to the quality of your life. Obviously, if it’s not positive, it’s negative, which “takes away” from that quality. These are the only two choices you have. It is one or the other, each in direct opposition of the other and there is nothing in-between; no gray area or any other options to deceive yourself with.
You can use the “or not” method to identify the good modifiers. Instead of happy or sad, for example, you’re either happy “or” you’re not. You’re either motivated “or” you aren’t. It works the same for any good modifier— friendly or not, respectful or not and all others. There is no need to even know what the negative modifiers are. Remove the negativity from your thinking. Fill your mind with only what you want. The “or not” method will do this.
Modifier Prefixes and Suffixes
Note that “unselfish” is a good character trait unlike most of the others with “un” prefixes; unfriendly, untrustworthy, as well as the prefixes “im” (example: immoral), “ir” (example: irresponsible), “in” (example: inconsiderate), or “dis” (example: disrespectful) and others. They all mean “not.”
“Not” commands the brain to do what it’s told… to seek out “not;” To “not” be friendly, to not be trustworthy, to not be moral, to not be responsible, to not be respectful, etc. Note that “to be unselfish” is actually a good modifier; to not be selfish.” Remember, other than the autonomic things the brain does “automatically,” it does what you tell it to do; “say this, do this“or “don’t say that or don’t do that.” Example: Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right… you either can or can’t, will or you won’t, do or you don’t.
The suffix “ful” also applies: hateful, sinful, spiteful (all bad), joyful, respectful (both good), which means that you are “full” of whatever that is… you are full of hate, full of sin, full of spite, full of joy, full of respect. Be aware of what you are full of. Everybody else already knows. Note that “disrespectful“ gets the double whammy of a prefix and a suffix as does “ungrateful“ and others. Avoid these poisons at all costs.
Also note that “integrity” is a revered attitude and character trait. It is the “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” It’s a great attitude. And since there is no adjective for the word integrity to modify the noun attitude, just let the word stand for itself. Be a person of great integrity. It will greatly enhance your character.
Avoid all the modifiers that are negative and that don’t define you. Focus only on good and all other modifiers that represent “good.” Recognize the bad ones when you act them act out or better still, before you act them out, and either don’t say it or don’t do it, stop saying it or stop doing it, or immediately replace the bad behavior with good behavior. The bad behavior magically becomes good behavior because that’s what you decided to do. You are never helpless in these situations not matter what you what you think or what others have taught you. You can do exactly what you decide to do… on demand. More on that later in Rule #8.
Be intentional in the design and improvement of your character. It defines who you are or better still, whose you are and how you live your life.
Here’s an Attitude Rule we will look at later, but note the “good” modifiers:
“There is only one rule for relationships and it’s golden… Always be nice, friendly, kind, polite, respectful and fair to everyone, including yourself, unconditionally.” That’s six. Here’s another rule about the essential attitudes for success: Disciplined, confident, motivated, determined, and tough-minded (Five more). The Fruit of the Spirit, how your life is transformed through Christ: love (loving), joy (joyful), peace (peaceful), patience (patient), kindness (kind), goodness (good), faithfulness (faithful), gentleness (gentle) and self-control (self-controlled) (nine more) should also define the content of your character as should Godliness (Godly), and being positive, righteous, moral, optimistic, enthusiastic, caring, unselfish, Christ-like… and more. That’s already 29 really “good” attitude (character) modifiers and you’re just getting started.
Use these and more to create your go-to (default) attitudes— your “factory setting.”
What are the specific attitude modifiers which shape and define the content of your character? You need to know this. Work on it and fine-tune it every day through your thoughts, attitudes and actions!
Here are some examples of good “attitude modifiers to choose from, at least one from A to Z:“ (Note: a, b, q, x and y are tough). Affectionate, appreciative, benevolent, bold, can-do, caring, cheerful, Christian, Christ-like, compassionate, confident, considerate, courteous, dependable, determined, disciplined, encouraging, enthusiastic, fair, faithful, friendly, generous, gentle, Godly, grateful, happy, honest, humble, joyful, kind, loving, moral, motivated, nice, nurturing, optimistic, patient, peaceful, persistent, polite, positive, quaint, relentless, resilient, respectful, responsible, righteous, self-controlled, sincere, tough-minded, trustworthy, understanding, unselfish, vibrant, virtuous, winning, wise (wisdom), xenial (I’m stretching here; means hospitable), youthful, zealous. There are more to add. Include integrity to the list (but remember, it’s a noun and not an adjective).
As a starter, create several of your own personal “go-to” attitude modifiers that describe your character. Memorize them. Master them. Add more. Review them daily. Know simple definitions of each and know the behaviors that are needed to act them out. Ongoing awareness is the key to alerting you when a bad attitude has been triggered. Catch yourself in the “act”(ion) of thinking, saying or doing something you should not think, say or do and then “do a 180” degree turn from bad to good right on the spot. Better still, catch yourself “before” the action. Recognize situations as they occur and consciously either instantly dismiss the thought, stop the behavior or apply the right attitude to replace the bad one with. (more on this in Rule #8)
Notable Thoughts about Character
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts, attitudes and actions.” – James Allen, As a Man Thinketh (emphasis added)
“The adjectives (attitude modifiers) used to describe a person’s attitude speaks volumes about the content of his or her character.” RAC
Memorize and Use This Rule:
Rule #6 – Your attitudes shape and define the “content” of your character.
theattituderules.com 