How to Change Our Character

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

November Issue 109

www.thenewsyneighbour.com

by Becky Stone, Pranava Yoga

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Have you ever known someone who is considered to have a “bad temper”? Or someone who is the most curious, adventurous sort? Maybe you have known someone who always seem to be stretching the truth, or outright lying, even when there is no need to do so?

Some character traits are obvious. Other characteristics are more subtle. But there is no denying the power of character to define how we feel about ourselves, how the world perceives us, and how we move through our life. I have some character traits that I can say I am proud of. But I also have some I wish I didn't! So what do I do about that?? Am I at the mercy of my patterns, habits, beliefs? Am I stuck with the character my thoughts, word, and actions over the last 40 years have created of me?

This quote indicates that we have the choice to define our character. If we want to change something about ourselves, we can! Truly, the hardest part of change is gaining the awareness of our failings, patterns and less-than-satisfactory traits. But once that is done – the method of changing our character is shown clearly in the quotation above.

The steps of creating a better character are relatively simple – though the process in actuality will not necessarily be easy. I have found visualization to be a huge help in the process of understanding this concept:

Imagine a baby freshly entered into the world. Imagine the child's innocent self as being a crystal clear body of water. At the bottom of the lake is a smooth sand base, which represents the very best version of our highest Self – or perhaps you would like to imagine this as God reflected within. Heredity plays a part in the water beginning to move, where this moving water represents the beginning of character development. As the child grows, has experiences, is influenced by family, starts to form beliefs about the world and itself – the water is now moving more. As the water moves it is no longer as clear as it once was. It begins to obscure the view we have of the bottom of the lake. Over time as the movement of the water becomes currents (each trait represented by different currents), the sand bottom of the lake begins to shift to form banks and channels. The new shape of the sandy bottom in turn reinforce the movements of the water. If the water is in turmoil, the silt may keep us from seeing the bottom entirely. The totality of all of this at any one moment represents our character.

How to change our character using this analogy:

One must change the waters movement into a direction that will serve us best. The stronger the current, the harder this will be to do. But it is very, very possible to release traits that no longer serve us and begin the process of creating healthier ones. It takes time, repetition, consistency, patience – brain/self-training as if it were a muscle in rehab accustomed to moving incorrectly. Beginning with the thoughts we think, we get to alter our destiny. Quieting the body of water often will make the shifts much easier. Use meditation, mindfulness, or other forms of self-care and self-awareness exercises to not only turn your gaze bravely inward, but to begin to ease the waters to stillness. This will help you immensely in the process of creating the best version of yourself.

We will always have moving waters – it is the nature of being human. If we are willing to do the work that it may take to do so, we are able to think, speak, act, pattern, and define what kind of character we wish to have. And that is great news! For now we can control our destiny. Or at the least, be a good character in a world that needs more of that.

Namaste, Becky