The Content of Your Character?
This is so very true. As children, learning, we have poor judgement and therefore make mistakes, but we are to learn right from wrong in those mistakes, take responsibility for ourselves and mature. In this, our repeated actions, are what shape our character. They write on our slate and define who we are to everyone around us. We either choose to do right or we choose to do wrong.
You can say anything about yourself, just as others can say anything about you but it’s not what you say or what others say, it’s what you do. “Your actions” that show everyone who you are.
A person might think of themselves as frugal, but one look at their credit card statement can always tell otherwise.
The content of your character truly reveals itself through your actions and your behaviors, only.
If you say you want to spend time with someone but repeatedly fail to show up, you are communicating that you aren’t willing to follow through on your promises.
If you’re repeatedly late, you are saying “My time is more precious than yours”.
If you say you are trustworthy but repeatedly lie, you are communicating that your word can’t be trusted. You are quite simply a “liar” and at the end of the day, no one likes their intelligence insulted.
If you take what is not yours, you are a thief. No one likes a thief either.
If you say you want to change but repeatedly fail to make an effort, you are communicating that you aren’t willing to do things differently, you are happy living in the error of your ways. You are only concerned with yourself and don’t care if you hurt others.When someone acknowledges these character traits in others, it isn’t forming judgments. It’s recognizing the facts so that they may make wise choices based on how things are—not how they want them to be.Maya Angelou used to say, “When people show you who they are, believe them.”
It's never your fault when someone else hurts you, but it’s within your power to stop allowing it.
If you recognize you’re being mistreated, choose to set and enforce boundaries. You can people a second chances and sometimes even a third or fourth because we all deserve that however, at that point you need to open your eyes and say enough is enough because no one has the right to mistreat you.
A genuine person shows up with honest love, they don’t mistreat you; they don’t hurt you; they don’t talk down to you and they aren’t only concerned with themselves.
My dad used to say: “Show me your friends, the people you keep and I’ll tell you who you are as an individual”.
I’ve always been mindful of that and today give credit to him for the strong inner circle of friends I’ve had and maintained over the years. (You know who you are) Everyone knows you by your true character. It’s your stamp of individuality. It’s all of your distinctive qualities rolled up into a light that either shines on the world or rolls over it like a dark, unwanted cloud. What kind of light do you, yourself, shine on the world?