Character flaws

It’s funny to me how we as people can usually say what we think we’d do, what we’d like to do or how we would like to respond in any given situation, but few of us are often right on the money when that moment arrives.

I believe it takes a kind of living in the moment, an ever present awareness and readiness to act – rather than RE-ACT. An instantaneous action to a set of circumstances that allow us to respond/be closer to who we think we are or what we’d like to be. It also takes a strength of character.

Obviously, we have the power to astonish ourselves. We have the capacity to outshine our limited perspectives of our own capabilities – and I believe these shining moments are a direct influence of our fixed character. The part of our true selves that requires rare questioning.

Character is the end result of past choices. Character is action – no thought required.

Characteristics are genetic, a DNA profile – but actual character is a conditioned way of being, behaving – it the very way we choose to walk through this life and the measurement of the footprints we consciously leave behind.

I have recently been examining my character. In times of stress I believe character is the best thing to fall back on to support the turmoil – but it’s only helpful if your character is strong and healthy.

I cannot say I am deeply impressed with my character at the moment.

As a writer, designing a character is one of my favorite parts of fiction. It’s easy to do character development on beings that can’t fight back or get pissed at you because you write them with character traits of selfishness, avarice, apathy or judgmentalism. They might not have the chance to get mad at you because they aren’t real – but they certainly, even as a writer – surprise you from time to time as they evolve, grow and mature into characters that are selfless, generous, empathetic and open-minded.

You feel a kind of pride as a writer, when you can pull a character arc of human traits and have it translate to a relatable character that shows the evolutionary potential of mankind – in a fictional story.

As a woman this is so much harder! As a real person with character flaws – it’s not like sitting down at the computer with a cup of tea and writing a scene wherein I create an arc that makes my life more meaningful and useful is even an option. God, I wish it were.

As of late, as I’ve been going through the potential areas that need focus, correction, fine-tuning or full on remodeling – I have discovered some hefty flaws and I know they are affecting my entire personal character arc, which ultimately affects my story arc.

So I’ve decided to put some attention on new evolution. I don’t know what that looks like yet, or how to get it started – but part of living the BlissQuest means digging out the things that make me unhappy, unhealthy and stagnant – and creating a better, more blissful life.

A character that doesn’t evolve, dies.

It’s tough on my pride, but some of these flaws are standing in the way of my growth, my bliss and my opportunities to live a vibrant life.

It’s time to do some honest evaluation and make some serious changes.

Do you have the courage to ask someone you trust, what areas you can work on? Do you have the strength to take their answers to an open heart and seriously consider them without killing the messenger?

What perceived character flaws are you currently working on, if you want to share?