Setting a Good Example

One Question for Today: 
Are you a lighthouse of inspiration or a rusty old shipwreck on the beach?


The older I get, the more aware I become of the importance of setting a good example. Younger people watch our actions for guiding their own lives. When they see us do something, they reason that if it's OK for us (because we should know better) that the action is also OK for them.


For this reason I tell others that they have only two choices; you can be a lighthouse of inspiration or a rusty shipwreck on the rocks. You can be a good example or a bad one, there is no middle ground.

Lately, after getting comments in return like, "So I need to wear sunglasses when you're around me..." I'm coming to realize that very few people understand the real meaning of what I'm saying, so starting today I'm going to create a series of posts to explain myself.

One of the most influential people in my life has been my karate instructor, not for how he taught me to punch and kick but for how he encouraged us all to become better people. At the end of every karate class we recited the 5 rules of the dojo (our training facility)
1. Seek perfection of character.
2. Be faithful (Stand by your family, your friends, your community and your country. Keep your word and honor your commitments.)
3. Endeavor to always do your best.
4. Respect others.
5. Refrain from violent behavior.
Even though it’s been many years since I’ve done any karate training, I still follow the 5 rules, because they also apply to everyday life, not just karate. The first rule is the most important one and the other 4 are really just parts of the first one.

So what the heck is ‘character’ anyway? Most people have an idea but can’t come up with a decent definition. In one sentence I would say that character is the sum of all the qualities that define a person. I’m talking about things like having integrity, high morals and exhibiting ethical behavior.

How do we perfect our character? We gain character and demonstrate it by making good choices, like doing the right thing for the right reason, even when no one is watching, not talking about other people behind their backs, etc. Character is formed not only by dramatic tests and crises, but also by the constant and routine acts of everyday life. As we are faced with varying circumstances every day and decide how to act on them, our actions and deeds become our habits, and our habits become our character.

Demonstrating character means standing up for your beliefs about right and wrong and resisting peer pressure to do wrong. Character is also about being responsible; thinking before you act, considering the consequences, and being accountable when you screw up.