We began the second week of the Lifebook program focusing on our Emotional Life to Create Peace and Joy. Now we are working on our character and the type of person we want to become. This is about who we are, what we are about and who we want to become. Our character is our inner nature and all the things that shape our identity. These include our behaviors, thoughts, ideas, motives, and intuition. Our character is what leads us to make good or bad choices, it determines everything in our life, affecting all 12 categories.

Your Character Category

To have a good character we must do the things we know are right. We have to stamp our values onto ourselves, imposing moral order on our life. Do you do the things you know you should do? Do you take care of your responsibility and duties? Do you make good decisions from a moral perspective? Do you do the things you know you shouldn’t do? Lie, cheat, steal? We must consistently do the things we should do and stop doing what we shouldn’t. This is according to our own values and moral code. Strong character means you know your values and live by them consistently. Our sense of right and wrong is ingrained in our identity and subconscious.

Your Character Premise

Your Premise refers to the foundational beliefs you hold about this category. What do you believe? What deeply held beliefs are shaping your life? Are your beliefs empowering? Do they move you at a deep level or are they holding you back? What is your Premise for this area of your life, or what would you like it to be?

1)  My character is essential in my life. I know what I should do and when I should do it. I do what must be done whether I want to or not. I choose long term benefit over short term satisfaction.

2) I consistently work on my character, developing better qualities and practicing the behaviors I value most. I am determined, disciplined and courageous to stand by what I believe to be right, true and beautiful. I continuously build new positive character traits into my life. No one can damage my character, I guard it and am fully responsible for it.

3) I choose the character traits I build into my life. I turn virtues into habits, I focus on the right things to do, pay attention and listen to my intuition. I have a list of virtues that I am turning into habits. I choose right action automatically, my virtues show who I am and consciousness shows me when I am on or off track.

4) My character shines brightest when the road gets tough. This is when I make the choice to be who I want to be.

Your Character Vision

Your Vision refers to the ideal state you would like to achieve in this important category. Ask yourself: How do you want this area of your life to feel? What do you want it to look like? What do you want to be doing on a consistent basis? Clearly describe your ideal Vision.

1) We pick up character traits from outside sources. I can control the person I become and the outcomes of my life. The choices I make dictate where my life goes. I am in complete control of every action I take. I chose who I spend time with, how I treat people, how I deal with setbacks. I own my life, I am in control of it whether I want to exercise it or not, everything is a choice.

2) I can change everything about myself, my choices, and my desires. I have a list of virtues, defined, and turn them into habits by focusing on them daily, weekly, monthly, forever. I consciously choose them in the regular.

3) My virtues are loyalty, peace, joy, patience, reliability, authenticity, courage, temperance, kindness, forgiveness, humility, gratitude, excellence, faith, wisdom, moderation.

Your Character Purpose

Your Purpose refers to the compelling reasons behind what you want in this category. What energizes you? What empowers you to take action? What motivates you to achieve your Vision? Describe WHY you want to make the most out of this area of your life

1)  My character dictates my behavior, extraordinary success requires extraordinary character. Everything I want in my life can be achieved by creating the right character.

2) Good character makes life easier, virtues make life easier for myself and everyone else. Strong character brings stability to my personality and my mind.

3) Creating a good character and behaving virtuously help and inspire others to become more virtuous in their own characters.

Your Character Strategy

Your Strategy refers to the specific actions that will get you from where you are now to where you want to be. How will you bring your vision into reality? Ask yourself what kind of positive habits, attitudes and action steps you can implement. What’s the RECIPE for the Vision you want to create?

1) Iconic people, in any area of life, where powerful inside before they become powerful outside. Inner strength is key.

2) I’ll let the results of my efforts prove the importance of character development.

3) I am prepared to make tough choices along the way, I know I will have to try, fail, and endure pain along the road. I’ll be sure to balance these out with self-care, self-respect, and self-love. I take responsibility for my happiness. I know I am the only one who can help myself.

4) Self-discipline is my key virtue to focus on, I practice discipline every day by focusing on my health and fitness category. I am patient and know that improvements are on their way.

Focusing on New Empowering Beliefs

At the end of the homework we were asked to answer the following question:

What limiting BELIEFS did you discover? What are your new empowering beliefs?

The importance of good character is somewhat new to me. I never had given it much thought from this perspective, and never thought of improving my character as a whole. I also didn’t think about practicing these virtues on a daily basis, I thought they were good things to keep in mind, but not something I could train to become better at. In any situation, no matter what, I have the ability to respond in any way I chose to, no matter what. This, however, is a “muscle” that needs to be understood and exercises. The person I am is the sum of the choices I have made over my life. Others have it way worse than I do, and I can control what I do with my life.

• Bruno Treves