“Character isn’t something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints. It’s something you weren’t born with and must take responsibility for forming.”
Jim Rohn
This month, my essays have been focused on inner work. Today, we look at how working on aspects like mindset, integrity, character, authenticity, and discipline can create the best version of ourselves. Inner work involves working on ourselves to strengthen virtues and address any character flaws. Self-reflection is necessary to truly know ourselves. Until we know ourselves, we cannot determine how to improve ourselves. We can choose stagnation by doing nothing, or we can choose personal growth.
Over the last twenty-five years, I have maintained a document titled “What I Seek in Myself.” It started with a simple exploration of what was important and what mattered most. It has become a longitudinal data analysis tool used to study changes and trends over time by observing the same subject. The subject was me and my inner work. Okay, too scientific; in simple terms, it means to look at or check something regularly and then use that information to understand how it grows and changes over time.
My document discussed personal integrity, honesty, stability, loyalty, justice, and character. My views changed as I aged. It gave me a deeper understanding of what was most important, and I answered the question of why. Looking inward is not for sissies. We often have to face our demons, the things about ourselves we dislike. Facing your demons is a vital step in personal growth, confronting a part of yourself that is undesirable. Deciding how you are going to change is growth. To become your best self, you need to know yourself first.
Mindset
The author of Mindset, Carol Dweck, describes a “growth mindset” as the belief that our intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and learning. This means people with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to grow and improve rather than fixed traits that cannot be changed. In contrast, a “fixed mindset” is the belief that your abilities are innate and cannot be significantly altered through effort.
A growth mindset opens us to change and seeking new experiences, a vital part of our personal growth. We can improve our adaptability and flexibility through a growth mindset, allowing us to see challenges and setbacks as opportunities. Rather than events tearing us down, we learn to grow and build resilience.
A belief in self-improvement motivates us to thrive, not just survive. A positive outlook enables us to identify our assets and flaws, promoting self-knowledge.
What Truly Matters? A Personal Growth Mindset
Character
Your character can be compared to an inner compass that guides and helps us navigate ethical and moral predicaments. It is one foundation of personal growth. Morals are the internal principles that guide our behavior. Ethics are external sources, such as the legal systems and societal norms. Morals and ethics help us determine right from wrong.
Our character shapes our attitudes towards life, challenges, and other people. Our behavior influences how we behave in different situations. In building character, we develop a set of principles and rules we follow. These may be shaped by societal norms and personal beliefs, such as fairness, justice, and respect for others. Our virtues and values are part of the design of character. Inner work involves the intentional process of self-reflection and self-improvement to cultivate and strengthen qualities such as honesty, integrity, kindness, and compassion. Through self-reflection, we develop and refine our character by understanding our values and beliefs and how they align with our actions.
Integrity
Integrity is about having strong moral principles that you consistently uphold. It’s about doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. And it means staying true to your values and commitments. The elements of integrity build trust and respect in relationships. Your actions and words reflect your integrity and values.
Your life, actions, and choices are your responsibility. Upholding your values and being your authentic self naturally follows a life of integrity.
Authenticity
Authenticity is about being genuine to yourself. It is living consistently with our values, beliefs, and personality. It involves expressing your true self without conforming to external expectations or pretending to be someone you’re not.
Living authentically means making choices that align with your core values and beliefs, which create a sound foundation. Living authentically brings increased happiness, reduced stress, better relationships, and greater resilience.
Being true to who you are allows you to accept and appreciate yourself. When you are true to yourself, you experience a sense of inner peace and contentment. Authentic living encourages continuous self-reflection and personal development. It is a key component to flourishing. You create a life of integrity, fulfillment, and resilience by making choices that align with your core values and beliefs.
The Power of Authenticity – Becoming Your True Self
Discipline
Discipline is vital to inner work because it provides the structure and consistency needed to achieve personal growth. Self-discipline can help you stay consistent. For example, if the vehicle of your inner work involves meditation or journaling, consistency can help you build the habit and make lasting changes to yourself. Discipline helps you stay focused and develop clarity on your priorities. Focus and clarity are vital to your inner work.
Discipline builds resilience by teaching you to push through challenges and setbacks. Resilience is vital for personal growth, as it helps us bounce back when things go wrong. Resilience helps us turn challenges and setbacks into opportunities for growth, making us stronger and more capable individuals.
How to be a Better Person by Setting Personal Standards
The Power of Inner Work: Transforming Your Life from the Inside Out
Conclusion
Developing and nurturing the right mindset yields personal growth. This inner work needs to happen for us to flourish. You can lead a more authentic, fulfilling, and impactful life by intentionally working on your character. Character refers to moral and ethical qualities that define your behavior and attitudes. Overcoming obstacles builds character and inner strength. You must step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
Morals are personal and internal, and ethics are societal and external; both are important in shaping our behavior and attitudes. Committing to integrity acts as your guiding principle, helping you navigate challenges, make ethical decisions, and live a life that is true to your core values. Integrity examines your beliefs, values, and actions to ensure they are aligned.
Cultivating authenticity allows you to live a more fulfilling and satisfying life, true to your values, beliefs, and passions. You need to develop focus, clarity, and discipline, as this inner work is the path to growth and seeking the best version of yourself. Self-reflection is how you start working on your inner self. You can meditate or keep journals, but it is a solitary process. Only you can develop yourself from the inside out.
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
Sir Edmund Hillary
Recommended Reading
The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals, by Daniel Walter
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
Citations
Photo by Samir Vanegas on Unsplash
Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash
Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash