What is character? A philosophy.

What is character or nature? That question recently arose after a conversation I had.

I searched Wikipedia and found:

“Character or character is the combination of fixed inner qualities or traits of a person. This combination determines how a person deals with certain things. These are relatively stable assets that are difficult to change, often only after intensive and sustained training or therapy. As a result, the trait distinguishes itself from habit, which is more a learned way of responding to one's environment that one can unlearn. Gained experience influences the character. "

Wikipedia also writes:

“Presumably part of the character is fixed in hereditary characteristics, but it is certain that the environment has a major influence on the character. So, upbringing also has an important influence.

The expression ‘having no character’ means that someone has no will of their own or does not carry it through. "

And yes, in the first part of that description I can agree with what character would mean. With regard to that supplement about where it comes from and how it is influenced, I now have a slightly different philosophy.

The fixation of character and character traits, in my opinion, goes much further than hereditary traits. For me, the base of character is the energy of the soul. As a kind of fingerprint. The soul as a source of power to use that uniqueness that every person has in terms of talents and gifts to share with the world (the why of your life). Spiritual? Perhaps but just a philosophy.

And the environment and that upbringing naturally plays an important role. But not to give shape and direction to character traits, but rather to show to what extent the soul of a person in the performance of his or her specific task (from my training as a talent coach I call it the life mission) is stimulated or, on the contrary, opposed. And it is precisely in the event of opposition that the character shows itself to be stronger because it is a struggle to be able to maintain direction. And that is very often not experienced as positive.

You often hear the remark: "This he or she has from his father, or this from his or her mother or grandmother." That may be similarities, but that does not necessarily mean heredity.

For me, character is the energy of the soul to reach your life goal or mission. A package that you have already received with your birth, not inherited, and that expresses itself to a greater or lesser extent in how you are stimulated or opposed in your life in the performance of your task. A package that travels with lives one on one with that soul, if you look from the perspective of Buddhist philosophy.

And if the expression "Have no character" would mean that someone has no will of their own or does not carry it through, then in my opinion you can almost assume that the same environment or education cited by Wikipedia has failed in stimulating that person in his or her mission but helped to work against it.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.