The Greek word "kharakter" means to engrave with a stick.Think of character as a stamp that you use to represent yourself.Building character is a process of lifelong learning that involves experience, leadership and a constant dedication to growth and maturity.Start building now.
Step 1: Take risks.
A person needs to risk failure in order to build character like an athlete.A person's character is built when they move out of their comfort zone.You can become a better person regardless of the outcome if you push yourself toward success.Taking risks means taking on difficult projects.Put yourself out there.You should not approach the barista if you want to ask for a date.Even if you aren't sure you'll be able to do the extra work, volunteer.Take what you want out of life.Look for reasons to act.If you want to go on a rock climbing trip with your friends, take a risk, even if you don't know how to do it.If you apply to graduate schools with small student bodies, you will be at risk.Don't make excuses.When it comes to your safety, building character doesn't mean acting recklessly.Building character is not related to driving recklessly or abusing substances.Take risks.
Step 2: People of high character are what you should surround yourself with.
People who you think exhibit desirable character traits are people that you respect.You have to decide what you want to be like, what makes the best version of yourself, and find people like that.Try to learn from what makes them successful.You should hang out with people who are older than you.We spend less and less time learning from our elders.Make befriending someone much older than yourself a goal as a young person.Spending time with relatives is a great way to learn.People are very different than you.If you like a quiet and reserved personality, you might think of someone with an uncensored and loud way of talking as having good character and can learn to speak your mind.Hang out with people you admire.The best way to build character is to hang around people you admire and learn from.Do not surround yourself with sycophants or friends.You want to model yourself after powerful people.
Step 3: Get out of your comfort zone.
Learning how to handle tough situations is part of building character.Do mission work through your church or volunteer to help at-risk kids after school.You can see black metal at a local show.There are ways to understand other people and shake up the status quo.If you want to make yourself feel at home, you have to travel to uncomfortable places.Someone will ask you for directions if you walk around a town you've never been to.Think about the things you liked when you were younger when coming up with ways to get out of your comfort zone.You can either go back to an old hobby or try something that you used to think was impossible.
Step 4: At least once, get a job that isn't fun.
Is that the meat grinder at the fast-food restaurant?Is it possible toiling under a hot summer sun?Is it possible to deal with angry customers at a shoe store?Less than desirable ways to spend your Saturday afternoons is true, but having difficult jobs is an excellent way of building character.Money becomes more valuable and meaningful when you see how it is made.Having a bad job can help you learn a lot about business and life in general.A person of high character will recognize that working at McDonald's is a difficult and dignified job.If you work, you will be a more open-minded and understanding person.
Step 5: To improve yourself, commit to self-improvement.
Character is an important part of learning.If you want to be a person that other people look to for inspiration, someone respected in your community and spoken of as a high character, make an active effort to improve yourself day in and day out.Building your character can be accomplished by taking small steps.Pick one thing you want to work on at a time.Maybe you want to be more committed at work.It's best to take a day at a time.Don't try to do everything at once.When you focus on one skill or trait at a time, you will do better.It's common to look back on your younger years and be embarrassed.There were bad haircuts and immature behavior.Don't be embarrassed.Your embarrassment is a sign that you're building character.
Step 6: It's a good idea to learn to empathise.
Lincoln wrote a stern note to a general who had failed to follow orders, in which he said he was "distressed immeasurably" at the general's conduct.It's very personal and harsh.Lincoln, a great leader by any standard, had learned to empathise with the general, who had seen more blood at Gettysburg than Lincoln could have imagined.The general was given the benefit of the doubt by him.A person of character will let it slide if a friend stands you up when you have plans, or if your boss fails to mention all the hard work you put in at a meeting.Be more cautious with your expectations next time and learn from the past.A person is focused on the bigger picture.A new general would make the situation worse by alienating him from Lincoln.What has been done is done, and what is left is past.Try not to think about the future.
Step 7: You can vent in private.
Even though Lincoln didn't send the letter, it's still important for him to write.No one can be made of ice.You're going to get upset.That is a part of life.It's important to let your feelings be known, but in a private way to keep your public character safe.You can let anger and frustration go if you find a relaxing activity.Write angry statements in a notebook and destroy it.Listen to Slayer while you work out.Go running.If you want to get the frustration out of your system, you have to find a physical and healthy way to do it.After a long day of cutting deals in the House of Representatives, Frank Underwood likes to blow off steam by playing violent video games.Everyone needs a way to relax.Find yours.
Step 8: You can open up to a lot of people.
A person of character is able to communicate with a lot of different people.Don't be afraid to be different.You learn as much as you can from different people.Have long talks with the guy at the BBQ joint you frequent, as well as your coworkers, your friends, and your family.Listen to what they have to say.Tell them the truth.This helps build a character.You can find mutually beneficial vent partners if you need to vent.If you want to focus on happier times, talk about other things.Don't let the bad distract you.
Step 9: Lose graciously.
James Michener once said that character has to do with what you do on the third and fourth try.How do you deal with a difficult situation?You will begin to build strong character traits when you face defeat and lose graciously.Compete at small things to learn.Getting into college, competing for a job, or more serious competitive moments can be hard to lose.You can have the essential foundation for the more important stuff if you build these traits playing board games, sports, and other littler ways of competing.Be a good winner too.Remember how it feels to come up short and not criticize the loser.In private, celebrate.
Step 10: Challenge yourself with difficult goals.
A person of character should lead by example.Take on difficult projects and commit to doing them the right way.Don't try to get good grades, challenge yourself to do the best work that you're capable of doing, in school.It's possible that an A isn't high enough for what you can achieve.Go above and beyond at work, volunteer for extra responsibilities, and put in extra hours at the office.Do it the right way.In your free time, commit to bettering yourself at home.Learning to play guitar, getting cracking on a novel you've always wanted to write, or fixing up an old car are some of the things that could be done in the night.Take your hobbies seriously.
Step 11: Use setbacks as fuel.
FailCon celebrates failure as an essential part of success.Failure is a speedbump on the way to getting what you want, eliminating one possibility from a list of possibilities.If you fail early and fail often, take your licks and learn from your mistakes the next time you reorganize.Go about failure in a scientific way.If your band just broke up, or if you lost your job, welcome the failure.There is a list of possible right answers and one wrong answer.Making your job easier is what you're doing.You get more from the journey than you do the destination.The failures, shortcomings, and false starts that get you there are what you should try to enjoy.
Step 12: Don't look for approval from others.
Sometimes psychologists talk about control.People with an "inner locus" are satisfied from within, looking to satisfy themselves and not worry about what other people think.The people with an outer locus are pleasers.It seems like a character trait that is desirable, but pleasing others to please yourself keeps other people in the driver's seat.If you want to take control of your life, learn to not worry about what your boss, partner, or other forces are telling you.
Step 13: Think large.
Define big goals for yourself and dream your dreams.What is the best version of your life?Don't jump in the air.If you want to be a professional musician, you should move to the big city and form a band.Don't make excuses.If you want to be a writer, you should find a job that gives you plenty of time to practice and work on your novel.Write like crazy.Aim for the top.A person of high character is happy with what they have.Staying in your hometown, marrying your sweetheart, and having some kids is the best life you can imagine.Go for it.You can ask the question and be satisfied.
Step 14: Start climbing a ladder.
Pick the route that will take you to it.If you want to become a doctor, you need to know what medical schools will give you the best chance of getting a job, and commit to getting through med school and residency.Throw yourself into the work.The ring is brass.Think about how you want to give back to the world when you're trying to find your purpose.If you want to go in a certain direction, use that as a starting point.
Step 15: It's important to recognize and embrace your defining moments.
In retrospect, defining moments are easy to see.Your character was put to a challenge, or your mettle was tested.A person of character will learn to recognize and anticipate those moments, to figure out what they might regret in the future, and make the right choice.The only way to do this is to be honest and familiar with yourself.Imagine all the possible outcomes of the situation.What will happen if you move across the country to pursue a career in acting?If you stay, what will happen?Is it possible to live with either outcome?What does it mean to make it?The right decision is made by a person of high character.Is it a good idea to stab a coworker in the back if you get a bigger paycheck?Will you be able to live with it?You can't make that call.
Step 16: Stay active and avoid boredom.
Doers are the people of high character.Roll your plan into motion right now if you decide to act.Start doing what you want to do.People with high character don't do bad things.Sleeping the day away, staying out all night drinking, and loafing around for no reason are not behaviors of people high in character.Don't be a beacon of sloth.As much as possible, align your work and hobbies.You can use your poetic senses in academics if you enjoy reading and daydreaming.Become a gym rat if you like punching heavy bags.You will build character if you do what you want to do.