Inner Character or Outer Guidelines?

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published June 15, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

What is character, really? Is it everyone doing what they think is right? The powerful forcing their standards on the weak? A set of rules you must follow or be punished? Often people don’t realize how subtle beliefs like these can affect their everyday behavior. Outward rules can clarify what is expected, but there’s still something missing.

Character First! works to create an environment in which people talk clearly and easily in terms of right and wrong. As this culture develops, we will find ourselves conforming not so much to outward guidelines, but to the inner values we are coming to recognize in life. In a way, what Character First! seeks is well-informed consciences. Outward guidelines are important–but ultimately only as they educate our inner character.

We hope that, through the presentations in the monthly bulletin and here in the Members’ Library, you are becoming more and more comfortable talking in terms of character every day.

• Examine the Members’ Library definition of Character. Do you consider yourself to be a person of good character?
• As you look at each history article, note how the historical figure was governed internally. What would be different if they required external guidelines?

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Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.