They challenge the fate of our collective development.
Character is not acquired overnight; it is built through years of experience, practice, learning, and self-reflection. It is the internal foundation that determines our actions and reactions in everyday situations. Character is not just a matter of moral values but also of our mental and emotional makeup. It is a manifestation of our authenticity and integrity.
On the other hand, destiny is the result of our choices and actions. Our character influences our decisions and how we cope with the challenges that life presents us. If we have a strong character, we are more likely to face difficulties with courage and persistence. Our destiny is not predefined but can be shaped by our actions and a change in our character.
Therefore, to build a better society, we must invest in the development of our character. This requires education, self-awareness, awareness of our actions and decisions. We should be guided by inner values such as honesty, fairness, responsibility, and compassion towards others. Only then can we create the necessary changes to combat corruption, fake news, and abuses of power.
So, character and destiny are interconnected. Our character determines our destiny, and our destiny shapes our character. Through continuous efforts to develop a strong character, we can create a better society and leave a positive mark on the world around us.
There is a saying in the business world: “Hire for character, train for skills.” Character was highly valued in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Then it went out of fashion because it sounded Victorian and stereotypical. Since the beginning of the 21st century, various studies have been conducted on character formation and there is evidence of a link between character and social mobility. It is undisputed that self-confidence, responsibility, and self-control have a significant impact on our lives and it would be logical to promote individuals who demonstrate responsibility, reliability, and honesty. If character affects our career prospects and future income, then we must surely consider how to ensure more character education in the name of equal opportunities.
Some schools in the last decade have included character formation as a subject in their curriculum. Not only have they reported a positive correlation between character education and academic success, but also on motivacije, better behavior, approach to things, feeling of satisfaction, better relationships, and social skills.
The Jubilee Center for Character and Virtue at the University of Birmingham is the pioneer of research that promotes the moral concept of character in order to explore the importance of virtues for public and professional life. They even offer a Master’s degree on the topic of character formation.
So, what is character? It originates from the Greek word “charassein” which means “to carve, engrave, imprint,” suggesting the idea that character is acquired as we grow up. Although the word character and many character traits can be morally neutral – resilience, for example, can be a characteristic of both sinners and saints – they most often refer to our moral qualities. According to Michael Josephson, “character is the moral strength that enables us to act rightly, regardless of the cost.” We constantly get to know our character through the way we react to everyday and extraordinary pressures and temptations, as well as the way we relate to other people. (especially towards those we think are “not important” to us).
How is character formed? It is a process in which our innate temperament is “sculpted” by the influence of our environment (parents, teachers, peers, events). This is a lifelong process, however, our character is our personal choice. Ana Frank, who died in a Nazi concentration camp, was only thirteen years old when she wrote in her diary: “The formation of a person’s character lies in their own hands.”
We must once again give importance to character, both as a society and as individuals. Without cultivating our moral character, we cannot achieve happiness as individuals or justice as a society. Let us follow the often quoted words: “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
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