Are You Perfect?
Don't worry, nobody is perfect. It's time to stop comparing and despairing. According to Dr. Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston "Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment and shame. But the quest for perfection is exhausting and unrelenting."
Even though you're not perfect, you're still a unique and wonderful individual with many strong positive character traits.
Bad things do happen; how you respond to them defines your character and the quality of your life. You can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, or you can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift you have - life itself.
Positive character traits are something you can and should develop. Although it may not be a popular pursuit, developing your character is one of the most satisfying, emotionally healthy endeavors you'll ever undertake. There is a core group of character traits that everyone needs to have. Most experts include traits such as love or caring, respect for life, honesty or trustworthiness, responsibility, justice and fairness as the traits you need to have. Some people define character traits in terms of values and also include ideas like freedom and unity. Individual character is the linchpin for a healthy, functioning society. Developing these traits of good character can be difficult to foster and maintain, but they afford so many positive benefits to improve the quality of your life.
Good character attracts the trust and respect of other people and allows you to influence others. It changes your perspective about failure and can sustain you through difficult times. Good character improves your self esteem, self respect and confidence. It creates a foundation for happy and healthy relationships. Good character helps you stay committed to your goals and improves your chances of success.
History has shown that societies tend to self - destruct when their people don't possess a core group of positive character traits. In the words of General Douglas MacArthur, "History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."
If you suspect that you might have some weak or negative character traits, you probably do, but that's normal. Your weaknesses might actually be hidden strengths. And negative traits, like bad habits, can be changed. Character is shaped by one’s beliefs, and with enough effort and motivation, through a change in perspective, the view of the world can be altered. Cultivating positive character traits, versus negative ones, can yield to greater success in life.
Developing positive character traits isn't something you do totally on your own. Your traits are linked to your conscience, moral convictions, beliefs, personal experiences, upbringing, rights, and responsibilities. Many of your traits will probably coincide with the beliefs and practices of other people you admire and appreciate - people you see as role models. Developing positive character traits means that you respect yourself, others and the world.
Ancient Greek philosophers recognized four main virtues: temperance, justice, courage and wisdom. Aristotle described virtue as a habit, a tendency of character to act in accordance with practical reason toward worthy ends. Socrates, Aristotle and Plato believed that the virtues were connected and you couldn't have one without having them all. Christian philosophers in the Middle Ages added faith, hope and charity. The list of positive traits continues to grow, but most can be grouped into general categories.
Realize that building your character is a life-long endeavor. It is something that is practiced both in the minutiae and the defining moments of your life. There will be times you step up to the character traits you embrace and other times you falter. By remaining committed to personal growth and learning about yourself, your character will naturally improve, even through the failures.
