Submitted by Celesta Aquaria on
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Excerpts from 7 Pillars of Character by Wendy Kusumowidagdo
Character is the very essence of a human being. It is one’s moral compass by which we conduct our lives and actions. Honesty, courage, compassion, concern for the environment, integrity, loyalty, knowledge, unselfishness, trustworthiness are some of the traits that all of us revere.
Character is shaped by nature and nurture. Nature is comprised of DNA, genes and hereditary factors, they say “it’s in your blood”. On the other hand, nurture is comprised of upbringing and the environment in which one develops, it typically determines the impact of a gene. Therefore Character is not set in stone. It can evolve, and for sure it can be developed, although it does not change quickly.
Abraham Lincoln once said “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” A person’s observable behavior is an indication of their character. A person of character does what is right to do regardless of the circumstances. At work, an employee of character will consistently perform at their best with or without supervision.
Character shines through a person’s intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Intrapersonal relationship is the relationship a person has with themselves. How a person treats and takes care of their body, mind and spirit. A person of good character has healthy mind, body and spirit. Interpersonal relationship is the relationship a person has with others, other human beings, the environment and society. A person of good character is compassionate and conscientious about their impact to the world.
The Seven Pillars of Character encapsulate the spirit of human character.
SEVEN PILLARS OF CHARACTER
(Compiled by John Hasell)
SELF RESPECT. Knowing that what we do and how we do it really matters.
SELF RELIANCE. Relying on self to make informed and workable decisions. Taking responsibility of consequences of own actions.
SELF EMPOWERMENT. Seizing opportunities to learn, grow and build self confidence.
PERSONAL VALUES. Basing actions on strongly held beliefs and values. Courage. Integrity.
COMPASSION. A heartfelt concern for the good of others. Turning empathy into action through Service.
TEAM WORK. More can be achieved by working together than working alones.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (SOCIETY AND NATURE). Thinking globally while acting locally.