Architect of Your Own Character

“Let us not say, every man is the architect of his own fortune, but let us say, every man is the architect of his own character.” – George Dana Boardman

The cool thing about your life is that you get to choose who you want to be. Who you choose to be as a person speaks volumes. Our character allows us to experience things uniquely. It is so important to make sure that your character reflects who you truly want to be in this world.

I was just watching a video by Anna Akana talking about bumping into a random stranger who reacted badly. Rather than reciprocating with anger, Anna responded gently and asked, “Are you okay?” Then the stranger replied that she was sorry and that she was having a hard time because her father had passed away. Turns out Anna Akana faced a similar situation with her sister. So, the two enjoyed a deeper connection with each other just from the fact that Anna chose to respond with kindness rather than anger.

How we choose to respond or react in various scenarios is an integral part of our character. If you wish to live a more fulfilling lifestyle, you may choose to identify with values such as truth or love. That way, you can make the best of any type of scenario. We don’t know how other people really are until we choose to identify with kindness or compassion even through seemingly difficult times.

I like the idea of being your own architect of your own character. Rather than focusing on the superficial and giving into pure materialism, we can look within ourselves and learn how to be four-dimensional beings. That is, learn how to resonate at a higher frequency or higher state of consciousness. Then, enjoy more pleasant experiences, even changing negative events to good ones. The true test of character is to overcome the negative that comes along the way. Don’t you agree?

By the way, if you have the type of personality that reacts badly to any situation, it is totally possible to change your ways and to become a more positive or pleasant person. You can recreate new personality types and identify with different values. It takes some conscious effort to change in the beginning, but it is possible. For example, you can go from being a shy person to being the life of the party at social gatherings just by practicing talking in front of a mirror or by attending Toastmasters and getting used to speaking in front of an audience. Remember, personalities are moldable. And if you so choose to pick good habits over bad ones, all it takes is some upfront work, perhaps shedding old beliefs and accepting more empowering beliefs.

Is there a part of your character that you would like to change? If so, how would you go about changing it? Feel free to share in the comments.