Essence of Character in Personality Development

There are various layers in human personality. It goes through various stages of formation and layers.. We often act externally in a manner dictated by the situation that does not really reflect what we actually think and feel. At other times we feel compelled to express deeper aspects of our personality, even when we know we should not or that others may disapprove of our behavior.

How does your character influence your personality? Does it reflect anything at all? To what extent is it important? For answering all this you need to know that your character refers to the fixed, repetitive and organized psychological formations. These are determined by the person’s values which find expression through the surface manners and behavior. Interestingly you cannot alter this even if you want to consciously because it is inbuilt in you. When honesty, ambition, generosity, selfishness, courage or cowardice is established traits at the level of character, they cannot be changed by conscious effort.

Character is behavior that one has accepted in the very depths of his being, in the substance, and allowed to take root there. The attitudes that express outwardly as behavior can change in an instant or over time, but the formed traits that constitute character are lasting and extremely resistant to change, regardless of the circumstance. So you can see how powerful it is in determining your personality. This is the effect of character in personality. Rather I should say this is the essence of character in your personality.

Character expresses most clearly in times of crisis or opportunity, when the surface layer of manners and superficial behavior is swept aside by an external pressure or lure. When there is absolutely nothing that you can cover yourself with in terms of expressions, your character takes the cake. This is when they you will show your true colours. Character is the essence of your personality because other things like behavior and others you cannot change the character.

Character is largely inherited from family, community and the nation. It is worthwhile examining oneself in terms of national character to see to what extent one’s own nature is representative of the collective. Character is associated with capacity. One who accomplishes at any level or in any field relies on a stable capacity for effective action that is an expression of character. To unfurl yourself truly you have to get in touch with the essence of your personality- your character.

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