I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than by jewels. Jewels are the gifts of fortune, while character comes from within. – Plautus
A job aspirant went to meet his former school principal to get a character certificate. To his astonishment the principal refused to give him a character certificate. When the young man did not leave his office, the principal told him, “Look here young man, how can I give you a character certificate to someone who has no character? During your school days you played truant and failed all the examinations. You quarrelled with your teachers and your classmates.” On hearing the principal’s verbal assault, he went away wondering what was meant by ‘character.’
“I don’t know what’s wrong?” bemoaned a young graduate who was appointed to a responsible post in a government department. Bright and charismatic, he had graduated from a state university and in a few days he realised that his department is faltering. The seniors were not pulling their weight and not extending a helping hand to new recruits. He wondered if there is anything wrong with his character. He felt that the atmosphere in the department was poisoned with suspicion and lack of trust. Finding no immediate solution to his mounting problems he tendered his resignation.
The two situations mentioned above need careful analysis. The main problem we face today is that we have moved from a Character Ethic to a Personality Ethic. Stephen R. Covey in ‘The 7 habits of highly effective people’ says, “Character Ethic is the foundation of success – things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity and modesty. Character Ethic teaches us the basic principles of effective living.”
Inner sense
Today, it is out of vogue to speak in terms of character which is made up of those values that give your life directions, meaning and depth. They constitute your inner sense of what is right and wrong. This is not based on man-made laws or rules of etiquette, but on who you are. They include such traits mentioned by Stephen R. Covey. The tragedy is that some people still wonder whether inner values matter anymore. The dilemma demonstrates a quandary of our modern life.
Many people still believe that the only things they need for successful living are talent, energy and personality. But how many of us know who we are or who we appear to be? Those who are familiar with the writings of Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson know that our success depends on character which is the bedrock of our lives.
When Personality Ethic emerged as a powerful force in the wake of World War I, success in life became a function of personal charm, skills and techniques. People began to think that life will run smoothly if they follow the rules of Personality Ethic. After reading Dale Carnegie’s popular book ‘How to win friends and influence people’, we began to smile with others with the idea of winning friends. People also began to show fake interest in others’ hobbies. Eventually the whole value system underwent a sea change.
Today, cricketers, film stars, singers and musicians have replaced our traditional heroes we read about in history books and literature. We should, of course, admire the skills of cricketers, film stars, singers and musicians, but they should not be our heroes. If we consider them as our role models, we head for disaster. Skills are necessary for success in life. If you have no skills, no one will offer you a job. However, skills do not guarantee happiness and fulfilment in life. They come from only through character.
Look within
The problem may arise as to how a person could build his character. The first step in character building is to look within. When you do so, private victories precede public victories. The private victories are the promises you make to others. If you make a promise, keep it. The promises you make need not be profound, they can be quite mundane. When you begin to make serious promises, you will be in a position to keep them too. This is the ideal way of making and keeping promises.
When you begin to work in any type of organisation, try to be a responsible worker. On the other hand, to lead a happy marriage, try to become a kind person who generates love, generosity and dependability. If you have these qualities, your marriage will be a success.
Trust is another ingredient you need to lead a successful life. If you keep on telling lies, nobody will respect you. Be loyal to people who may not be in your presence. Very often we hear employees criticising their bosses behind their backs. Instead of criticising, meet the boss and discuss your problems.
Character building can begin at home because your character is revealed in whatever you do. There are many opportunities to build character within your own family where you are being constantly tested. Encourage your children to tell the truth. At the end of the day, before you retire to bed, search within yourself if you had lied to anyone or cheated anybody. All this will take time and energy, but eventually you will develop a sense of openness, optimism and trust.
In the good old days, students could offer Ethics as a subject for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination. It taught the older generation the value of character building. By learning Ethics, we knew what is right and wrong. In addition, we learnt how to respect our elders and teachers. What is more, Ethics taught us how to live in harmony with others.
However, a smart Alec axed Ethics from the syllabus and opened the door for false values touted by gurus teaching Personality Ethic.
