Character Flows From the Inside Out

Outwardly, character reflects an inner life committed to honor and uncompromising integrity.

Dungy, Tony; Nathan Whitaker (2011-02-21). Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance (Kindle Location 253). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Life flows from the inside out.  Eventually, who you are on the inside works its way to the outside for everyone to see.  If you want to be a man of honor and integrity, you have to be committed to cultivate that on the inside.

This begins with the stories we rehearse.   Do you ever imagine scenarios at work - for me they usually involve working through conflict - and think about how you will respond?  Are your responses positive and life-giving?  Or, do they build you up by putting others down.  When a handsome guy or a beautiful gal walks by, do you pay attention to your inner dialog?  In your head, are you a gentleman or a lady?

What about the stories we consume?  Now, I'm not saying everything we watch has to be perfect.  What I am saying is that eventually, the stories we consume become the stories we rehearse which then become the stories we live.  Does your story consumption - for the most part - reflect the kind of story you eventually want to live?

So what do you do if you don't like the story you are living?  What do you do if you don't like who you are on the inside?  Begin telling yourself a different story.  Consume stories that encourage the character you want to cultivate.  Start measuring your daily success against who you want to become.

That's what I have done. That's what I'm currently doing.

photo by Martin Cathrae