Questioning Our Character
Questioning Our Character
"In order to struggle successfully with yourself, you must know your character intimately, and be aware of your faults. To achieve this self=awareness, sit down with a pen and paper - the exercise will be painful - and write down what you feel are your most obvious character flaws and weaknesses:
Joseph Telushkin"
I would add only one thing to this fine assessment.
When you've finished looking at your weaknesses, make a similar list -- just as long -- of your good character traits.
Balance is everything.
Shalom!
- Am I prone to anger? When I am angry, do I overreact and say or do things that inflict pain on others? Or am I the sort of person who, if asked, will deny that I am angry, yet will treat other people with coldness, disdain, and annoyance?
- Do I judge others fairly, or am I harshly critical (both in what I say and what I think)?
- Am I stingy with my money or my time?
Do I speak curtly, making people feel that I have no time for them? (This is unkind, even if we are busy.) - Do I avoid saying or doing what I believe is right because I fear how others will react or what they will think of me?
- Am I moody?
- Do I make people around me feel that they are somehow responsible for my moods?
- Does my unhappiness affect the atmosphere in my home, transforming, often in a matter of minutes, a general feeling of pleasantness and good will into one of tension and sadness? (Taking away the good mood of those around us and lowering their spirits is a cruel, even if unintentional, act of aggression.)
- Do I treat strangers with more consideration Than members of my own family?
- Do I take other people's kind behavior for granted, or do I go out of my way to express thanks and help those who have been kind to me?
- Do I blame my wrongful actions and mistakes on others, or do I take responsibility for the wrong I do?
- Do I jump to conclusions and blame other people before I know all the facts?
- Am I able to control my impulses, or do I give in to temptation easily?
- Do I bear grudges and remain angry at others for a long time after an argument?
- Am I tardy, and thereby waste other people's time by keeping them waiting?
- Do I rationalize dishonesty with excuses such as "Business is different?"
- When I hear of other people's sufferings or misfortunes, do I find ways to help them, or do I feel sadness in my heart but do nothing?
- Am I jealous of the success of others? Do I begrudge others their good fortune?
Joseph Telushkin"
I would add only one thing to this fine assessment.
When you've finished looking at your weaknesses, make a similar list -- just as long -- of your good character traits.
Balance is everything.
Shalom!
Originally Posted by historyteach
And what's the positive trait that balances that statement, windy???
L'Chaim!
L'Chaim!
Originally Posted by windysan
nothing positive to report about myself. i'll let you know when i make something up.
Originally Posted by Alera
You could have fooled me. I like your sense of twisted humor that is exhibited in your choice of avatars for example.
Thanks !! That can be a good character quality or whatever.
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