How Do I Maintain Character?

By Jeremiah Demouchet


Obtaining a positive character involves what you value, who you imitate and your willingness to practice positive behavior. Now that you know the basic steps to obtaining a positive character, the question is, how do you maintain it? To maintain your character you must constantly make choices that are compassionate and respectful towards yourself and others.

Maintaining your character must be done on a daily basis. Maintaining your positive character means protecting and guarding yourself from influences and choices that could lead to developing negative character traits. Sometimes, it must be done minute-by-minute. Maintaining your character requires controlling your thoughts, as well as, being prepared to deal with any situation that could compromise your character. With so many negative influences coming at you from all different directions, it takes effort, commitment, and determination to maintain your most valuable possession...your positive character.

Have you ever heard the saying, "It's all in your head?" Most people say it sarcastically, but there's some truth to it. Whether you are aware of it or not, every action begins with a thought. Setting your mind in advance to maintain your positive character traits begins by first considering just how important it is to have a moral character. To be trusted, admired, respected and known as an honest, reliable, compassionate person is something you should want.

The next step is to make up your mind not to be influenced to do anything that will compromise your character. In other words, determine in your mind that no one can talk you into doing something you know is wrong. This is called setting your mind in advance. For example, you know that stealing is wrong. Set your mind in advance to always respect another person's property as you would want others to respect yours.

A very critical aspect of maintaining your positive character is being aware of the thoughts you think. Thoughts continuously run through your mind which are significant in controlling your actions and decisions. A particular thing to be aware of is the negative thoughts that may enter your mind when you feel someone has wronged you.

Some people become angrier and angrier by perpetuating negative thoughts about the person and the situation. This then can lead to a course of action to satisfy the anger. Many people have been put in prison because they harbored negative thoughts that led them to revenge or violence in some way and caused someone to get severely injured. It is important, however, when these types of negative thoughts of revenge enter your mind, to immediately reevaluate them and turn them into positive thoughts that will not lead you to compromise your positive character.

Using positive thinking to reevaluate situations has great potential in helping you maintain your positive character. For example, if someone calls you "stupid" instead of immediately becoming angry and desiring to get back at him, change it to positive thinking by saying to yourself "After all, two wrongs can't make a right" or "I hope I'm not contributing to his having a bad day." Set your mind in advance to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations and stick with it. Remember, your thoughts can make a difference. People who think positively about situations are more likely to make right choices that build positive character. Negative thinkers are more prone to negative influences and choices that corrupt a positive character.

Maintaining a positive character also means evaluating your choices every time to determine what character traits you need to improve. Then practice improving that character trait at every opportunity you get. For instance, you received a poor grade on your test because you went to the mall instead of studying. You knew you did not act responsibly; so, you determine that from this point on you will study first and have fun later or find joy in your studies.

Remember, maintaining a positive moral character means knowing what areas of your character you need to focus on. Sometimes or never are answers that should be taken seriously. These are areas that you need to improve on. So set your mind in advance to practice these behaviors until they become a part of your character. Look for opportunities to practice the behavior you want to improve until it becomes habitual.




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