Good Character: Character that leads to Growth

The last blog, we concluded with the statement “History and research are in accord: the development of strong character needs an early start.” Now I would like to pose the question, “What do we mean by strong character?” Our meaning of strong character actually means good character. That statement might seem obvious, but people of strong character are not always people of good character. By using the term good character we are referring to character that leads to growth: personal and social. People of good character have accumulated the virtues that enable them to develop their personal potential. Their habit and attitude is to achieve. They have accrued a history of competency, a history of becoming better and better at whatever tasks or responsibilities come their way. They set goals and they are equipped to reach those goals. To those of good character, life becomes a series of opportunities to realize their potential. The prospects might be in academics, in a profession, or in recreational hobbies. Regardless, people of good character grow, and in growing their sense of self-worth and self-confidence blossoms.

Similarly, people of good character have accumulated the virtues that equip them for social growth. They have developed the habits and attitudes toward people that empower them to make and keep good friends. Furthermore, they know how to work and live productively with others. Within their social constructs, they are contributors. They are givers. They make others better and they make their social environments better whether at work or at play.

Because they have learned to value their own life and that of others, people of good character also inspire hope, encouragement, and determination. They enrich their own lives and that of others.

The development of good character is a process. Attainment is an ideal. Nevertheless, the ideal inspires and gives direction to efforts. People who aspire to good character understand that they will never be perfect. In fact, when people aspire to good character they will become aware of their defects. Yet they are not deterred; they do not look at the state of their character as good or bad. Instead they embrace the process. They grow: incrementally, little-by-little, day-after-day. For them, to live is to grow.

This awareness brings us back to our original discussion about giving children an “early start.” In relationship to good character, an early start means that we teach children about virtue and we help them habituate the attitudes and behaviors of virtue. If we can give them an early start on this most noble and fulfilling pathway, we will give them momentum to grow personally and socially, not merely as an occasional activity, but as a way of life.

As I have mentioned before, I can think of no better legacy to give our children than that of good character. We cannot micromanage the world they will inherit. Although we can and should attempt to predict the social, economic and global variables of the future, and we should attempt to prepare them for every possible future scenario, nevertheless, there is no better preparation for the future than that of good character. Good character empowers our children to actively direct their future rather than to be passive respondents. With good character, their destiny is much more in their own hands than in the hands of an unpredictable future.

Having established the need for good character, in the next column we will explore the definition of virtue, and then we can address how virtue can be habituated, eventually becoming character.

From the 2015 December/2016 January Birchwood Clipboard