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Today’s Miracle Moment is about character. Think about the people you’ve known throughout your life whom you admire. My guess is, that you’d say they each have character.
When we think of our parents, a few of our teachers through life, some dear friends (including each other!), we think of people whose character we admire. Character is something we value and respect, and unfortunately we don’t see a whole lot of it these days.
When we develop our own character, our lives become more and more miraculous.
You know how there are days of the year honoring almost everything – there’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day and Labor Day…and did you know that there is actually a day called Character Day?
Well, there is. It was on September 18th and more than 6,100 schools and organizations in 41 countries from Kenya and England, to China and Argentina celebrated it with character building activities.
Character Day was founded by Tiffany Shlain, an Emmy nominated filmmaker, who founded the Webby Awards. She is also the creator of the short film, “The Science of Character,” which explores the idea that character isn’t something static but something you can develop over time.
In her film she cites scientific research about how people either have a fixed mindset and they believe they’re born with certain abilities and talents and are stuck with those and cannot develop any more, or a growth mindset and believe that they can change anything they set their mind to.
When someone with a fixed mindset fails, he or she thinks it means,”I’m a failure.” When someone with a growth mindset fails, he or she thinks, “Failure happens and I’ll learn from it and improve myself and move on knowing what not to do next time.”
The good news, according to Tiffany, is that we can all develop a growth mindset because of the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, better known as our brain’s control panel – and we are in charge of the controls.
One of the ways we can strengthen our character and become more of who we want to be (including developing a growth mindset) is to simply stop before we act and ask ourselves, “Is what I’m about to do really a reflection of who I am and who I want to be?” If the answer is no, do something else.
Another way to develop your character is to choose a character quality you’d like to work on and commit to being aware of and practicing that one quality for an entire week. For example, if you want to be more generous, you might want to give your change to a homeless person, or give a tithe to your favorite charity, or offer to babysit the children of your friend who is a single mom. You can do this practice with your children. You might encourage them to share their potato chips with a classmate or let their brother watch his favorite show even if it means missing theirs.
You can even help shape other people’s character by appreciating the character strengths in them.
So what character qualities would you like to develop? Enthusiasm? Perseverance? Kindness? Honesty? Humility? Fairness? Self-control? Gratefulness?
Today, let’s commit to focusing on one quality each week and see what miracles unfold in our lives.
Let us know what happens!
What Character Quality will you focus on strengthening? Share a comment below…
Never thought of this, this way.
Yes, I need to work on my character, strengthening (?spelling) who I am and want to be.
Optimism and gratitude while my husband completes cancer treatment.
Prayers and blessings to you and your husband, Teresa.
Isn’t it a wonderful shift in perspective? Let us know how it goes, Carla.
What a great idea. I practise those traits now, but I welcome new possibilities.
Right on, Fran!
It is difficult to choose ONE since ALL are so important and badly needed.
That’s so true, Beatriz. Although we find it’s easier to focus when just choosing one to play with at a time.
Gail – This week I choose Self-Control and I can’t wait to see what gift I will receive by using “Self-Control”. Perhaps it will show up in inches or also a weight loss for me.
Sending you much strength, Gail!
Thanks that’s great. I’m going to practice orderliness, as I sit here in clutter. Valuing the discipline of going through paperwork and finding a place for everything will surely contribute to building a more beautiful character . Will start with the table. You both are so helpful. I look forward to the miracle moment.
Thank you so much, Anne! That means a lot. We are big fans of decluttering!
I would like to be more grateful than I am deeply within. I say I am but realize I surely have to improve this quality. Thank you.
Elisabetta, we are always working on having an attitude of gratitude. And there are so many things to be grateful for each day. Blessings.
Thanks so much for these lovely reminders, Debra and Marcie. Compassion is the one I choose to focus on. <3
That’s a beautiful one, Shan. And always so needed in the world.
Hi Debra and Marcie,
I really believe in that: character is a great virtue in one person. Nowadays is rare see people with good character. To me, the character has big value and I appreciate so much this one.
Congratulations on been helping people around the world.
Cheers.
You are soooo welcome, Placido! Thank you for sharing.
Self-control
I often blurt out things without thinking first.
Been there, done that! That’s a good one.
I believe in character building to achieve &pursure the good purpose of life.
We couldn’t agree more! Character helps build a Miraculous life!
Enthusiasm is something that would benefit me to work on. It seems that my energetic self has been missing for quite some time, unless something specific that I am so jazzed about comes up. Losses and circumstances and change over recent years have truly interfered, so I am on a mission to win no matter what!
Love the awareness that enthusiasm is missing, Lynndi. We’re feeling more energetic already… 😉