The Development of Character

A person’s character is the most permanent possession one has in life. The personality is formed around the environment, subconscious programming, the desire nature and the influence, however small or great, the indwelling Soul (inner goodness) has on its representative, the personality. If that influence is small or virtually non-existent, the personality will reflect the lowest expressions of human behavior. If it is great, that personality will not belong to mass desire and mass values. Between these two will be found the largest segment of collective personalities, representing various levels and degrees of influence from the lower and the higher expression of mankind.

Our personality reflects our present temporary condition as well as progress we’ve made. Our character is the substance underneath. It is formed much the way a tradesman of old would carve out a figure from a fallen tree, day by day and piece by piece. Many experiences are required, some very painful, to shape the inner character of a person to conform to the divine nature which has given him outer life.

This method of character development is why it is necessary for spiritual aspirants to undergo and to willingly accept the painful effects from our past as well as the positive effects we have accumulated. By striving to avoid the difficulties in life and seeking instead the "easy" way out through each experience, we are simply delaying the day when we will be in more conscious control of our destiny.

This does not suggest that we should be anxious to test fate and invite problems. Who among us does not feel he has had a full measure of difficulties in life? But by observing our conscious actions daily, even hourly, we can observe how often we do try to make life easier on the personality. The difficulties, we will note, are not the result most often of the truly worthwhile things we are trying to do; they usually are the price being extracted for the fulfillment of personality desire. It is the search for personal aggrandizement, not the attempts at serving collective mankind, which causes the most grief.

Just as the craftsman whittles away at the task of removing all that is not a part of what he is creating, so it is with character. The character is not being damaged when the personality is being appeased with happiness, it is simply being ignored. It is analogous to the craftsman not showing up for work, so no progress is made. We have spent a very long time attempting to build a condition of permanent satisfaction, like trying to preserve the fallen tree, rather than creating from that massive substance a beautiful work of art, capable of drawing the inner qualities of the Soul to the surface to reveal the true beauty. The personality does not need to be preserved and protected until the inner character has been fully formed and manifested. The aspiring personality eventually becomes the true spokesman for the indwelling life, revealing what time and struggle has produced within the character.

Those who falter in their efforts here usually do so from trying to take on too big a task at one time. Small bites at a time are the safest way to proceed and avoid disappointments. There are numerous ways one can increase the strength and quality of one’s own character. A bit of contemplation on this subject with respect to one’s own nature will reveal much.

In addition, throughout the day and periodically throughout the month, during the course of a full year, it is most beneficial to the strengthening of character and will, if we constantly choose the slightly more difficult way when there is a choice in which doing this will not inconvenience or cost others in any way. If, for instance, we are deciding whether to do something today or tomorrow--a chore for example, we can immediately decide to do it now instead of waiting. We had a choice, it made no difference to anyone else, so we elect to “maneuver” the personality into more discipline. If we have two or more ways of doing a project and they are virtually equal, to choose the one that makes it a little more difficult is sound advice for one building more will power.

Adding a little struggle when it is not necessary, or not getting by without doing something because we do not have to, are sure ways, over a period of time, to increase the control our mental nature needs to exercise over the personality/desire nature. Every day we are faced with numerous “little” choices. Unconsciously, and from long habit, we choose the one that is the “easiest” for us, that requires the least effort or sacrifice on our part.

These easier choices, while perhaps causing no inconvenience to others, are not furthering the responsibility we have to bring our overall nature into a more harmonious balance. We have not been balanced! The desire nature has been the “ruler” from birth; it has been catered to throughout the life span, so we are too heavily weighted in that direction for balance to occur without a conscious and sometimes strenuous effort.

The higher mind (the part from which our best comes) makes no move in the direction of the personality and will not assert any effort to force us to build more acceptable character. The higher mind also will not be responsive to a weak and poorly defined character. It is this requirement that causes the academically educated person fewer problems than the less well educated. The less educated are often in their position in life from conscious choices, having turned down or not sought out opportunity for higher education. It is not the knowledge itself that is of lasting value to the aspirant, it is the discipline that was required over the years of study that is the most beneficial. We do not describe one as having good character because of the knowledge they have. It is because of the discipline and self-control they exhibit.