"Our CHARACTER is what we do
when we think no one is looking"
-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
The true measure of one's CHARACTER lies on what he does, when nobody's looking. Character defines who you really are, as an individual. It is the total outcome of what is truly in your heart, mind and soul. Reputation on the other hand is who you are, in the eyes of other people. It is how and what other people perceived you are. Character is often mistaken for reputation. Oftentimes, people are judged by their reputation and not by their true character. This may be so, because they don't get much chance to know the person, better and deeper, that they just rely simply on what they see, or what they hear.
Shouldn't we be more concerned about our reputation, than our own character? I don't think so. Even we know for a fact that it is important to gain a good reputation, as it may define our influence over other people and the society and may dictate our position in organizations, It is even more important for us to be concerned of "who we really are". Sometimes in our attempt, to live up to a good reputation, we loose our own self, in the process. We project a certain image, to please others, while we kept our true character inside. Eventually, even how much we conceal it, our true character will find it's way out.
So be concerned of your character, know your self, accept who you truly are. If by chance, you find the real YOU, may be not the best yet...improve yourself. Anyway, according to Jim Rohn "character is not something you are born with, and can't change; It's something you weren't born with, and must take the responsibility of forming".
Better to build your character first , then your reputation...You'll be happier to "BE" someone, not because you HAVE TO...but because you WANT TO.
At the end of the day, when we face God,
He will see and judge us -- by who we truly are,
and never by what others, think we are.
