In essence, as human beings, we generally express the truth about our characters through our actions. Actions, on the other hand, also impact character formation because they soon turn into carefully constructed habits, whether conscious or unconscious. However, character alone does not expressly define the “self”, even though it implies who a person is. This is mainly due to the fact that character, unlike the “self”, is innate, while the “self” is mainly affected by an individual’s external interactions. This discrepancy is captured squarely by the following quote; “when riches are lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; but when character is lost, everything is lost” (Billy Graham). This quote essentially implies that character (everything) is innate. However, in application character has only but a partial bearing on the “self” because according to Leary & Tangley (2012), the “self” is a product of external situations that shape behavior and ultimately reveal character. So what exactly is the
In essence, as human beings, we generally express the truth about our characters through our actions. Actions, on the other hand, also impact character formation because they soon turn into carefully constructed habits, whether conscious or unconscious. However, character alone does not expressly define the “self”, even though it implies who a person is. This is mainly due to the fact that character, unlike the “self”, is innate, while the “self” is mainly affected by an individual’s external interactions. This discrepancy is captured squarely by the following quote; “when riches are lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; but when character is lost, everything is lost” (Billy Graham). This quote essentially implies that character (everything) is innate. However, in application character has only but a partial bearing on the “self” because according to Leary & Tangley (2012), the “self” is a product of external situations that shape behavior and ultimately reveal character. So what exactly is the