True character

True character...I am curious to what you think that looks like. I know that it seems like this work is filled with a lot of people who have true character and an almost equal or greater amount that has fake character. It's easy to spot fake people sometimes. I am not judging others by saying that. Everyday I have an interaction with someone I know and I see how they act and then I will see them around other people and their actions are totally different. Their actions are different, the words they are saying are different, and they are probably thinking about things in a different way.

Having a true character has been something that has taken me a long time to develop. We are so much different than people and to fit in sometimes you have to act a little different than you might normally act. I've made it a goal and priority of mine to be the same person both on and off the court. Along with being the same person both inside church and outside of church. I am who I am and I want people to know that they are getting the same me 100% of the time.

It's difficult because certain activities require different character traits and skills that you have. Here is the thing, skills and character traits are two different things. You could have all the skills in the world and no character and not get anywhere or you could have very little skills and have a great deal of character and have the sky by the limit. I've been told that businesses nowadays want people with high character over those who are just very skilled. Character is almost everything.

One of the things that has taken me awhile to learn is how to have the same character at the highest of highs as I do at the lowest of lows. That has taken me longer than anything else. When things don't go our way it is so easy to get frustrated about the situation that we are in. We let those frustrations lead to sin and when we sin we aren't showing our true character.

To me this is something you just to have to practice over and over again. You have to keep a level head and remember one thing. Christ Jesus is what is most important in this life and believing in him means more to me than anything else does. When things start to get out of hand you just have to remember what is truly important. Getting mad and being angry won't get you anywhere. When you get tempted to get angry, just sit back, take a deep breath and lets thing fizzle out.

Another thing that I have learned is that people notice your character more than anything else. It's easy to think you have to do something really cool for people to notice you but that's not what catches people's attention. When you get caught up in thinking that all of the skills or things you accomplish based on pure skill are what is most important the only eyes you're going to attract are the eyes of people who don't have true character either.

I've learned that people with true character don't shy away from telling you that you have true character. There is value in that. That means you have relationships with people who have true character which is something that we all need. You know what? God knows when you have true character as well and I believe the Holy Spirit encourages others to say things to people with true character.

I also wonder what matters to you. Does it mean more for you to be affirmed about having good character? Or does it mean more for you to be affirmed based on skills or a performance. For me, the answer is obvious. I could have my best game of the season and to be complemented on my character means more to me than anything else.

I have also learned that people notice things that you would never think they would notice. I don't want to make it sound creepy, but somebody is always watching. People notice every little thing about you. So how are you acting?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us all from pain. Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask him to solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; he will always still close to you and help you grow.

Have true character at all times. It's not easy and every step of the process is meant for your learning.