Personality Development: Why You Need to Develop Good Character

Before you think so far, no, this post is not about character development for your next blockbuster novel. Rather, it is about you; how well you are able to put your emotions in check and react; it is what people easily remember you for and identify you with.

If you are familiar with prose writing, then you will understand the concepts of dynamic and static characters better. If you are not so familiar with the behind-the-scenes of fictional character development, not to worry for soon youd understand what it is and what character development is about in real life.

What is Character Development in Real Life?

Character development in real life refers to personality traits which you, as a person possess, good or bad, and with which people use in defining you. Your character as a person comprises of your temperament, your ideology and beliefs, your mindsets, all of which combine together to form your personality or nature.

In fiction writing, a dynamic character is one who is witnessed to have changed over a period of time. For instance, if we witness the birth of a child and after some years we meet that character at age 18, thats an example of a dynamic character. While a static character is one who from start to finish remains the same. However, change in characters are not just measured by their physical attributes alone; emotional change, psychological change etc. are all part of character development. And just like fictional characters, we will go through changes in our lives─ emotionally, psychologically, physically, and in every other wise.

‘You drink a lot of water. Thats nice.’ Someone told me quite recently and I laughed. I laughed not because the statement was funny, but because I remembered that just two months back, it was an entirely different story. I used to drink very little water then. Sometimes, I went as long as two days without a drop (mostly because I always forgot), while other times a sip was all I had all day. It was bad habit and I knew but somehow I never could bring myself to remember or will myself to drink some more. I didnt necessarily have an aha moment but I determined to begin drinking more daily. I got intentional about it and I got myself a bottle which I kept on standby every time. Gradually my water drinking habits improved to the extent I would never leave the house without it, or at least making provision to have water all through the day. It became a part of me (in such a short time) that someone who didnt know me prior to then noticed.

Why did I just tell you that story? Well, because it can be related to your character and character development. Humans are dynamic in nature; we change from time to time, and sometimes, it is your responsibility to introduce that change.

Have you ever been in a situation where you always exhibited certain unhealthy characteristics and within you knew were bad? Did you make efforts to change or did you go with the thats how I am deception? While its true that your temperament is responsible for why you act the way you do, it would be deception to believe there is no room for improvement, and folly to remain that way without making efforts to improve.

So, character development in real life are those constant changes you undergo, which contributes to building your unique persona. Different things can influence the change in your mindset which determines the direction your character tilts.

Your character says a lot about you. It reveals (in a Nigerian mother’s voice) whether you have home training or not. Ha-ha!

Importance of Character in Personality Development

Since character refers to the combination of your qualities and attributes as a person, it is important to ensure you have only the best of them. Good character has the ability to open doors of opportunities and goodwill for you before people, just like a bad one can shut it firmly before its even properly opened. Consider this story below;

Dear wonderful Dan met and fell in love with pretty Lucy. He had just two special women in his life─ his mother and his girlfriend. He talked about the one so much to the other and soon both women couldn’t wait to meet each other, but unfortunately Both Lucy and Dan lived in different cities. Finally, Lucy was coming to town and they were all excited.

Mama had been out when Lucy arrived. She had gone to the market to get some yams and vegetables with which she planned to use to entertain their guest. By the time she arrived home and was at the door, she could hear voices on the other side. She was anxious for two reasons; to meet the woman her son always raved about, and to get lunch started. “The girl must be tired and hungry” she mentally scolded herself. As she opened the door and got in, to all their surprise, she and Lucy had met before and it had not been a pleasant meeting.

Earlier that afternoon, as Mama left the market, she stood for a while trying to get a bus back home. She had spent a lot of money on the goat meat so she didn’t have spare change for a cab. She was so excited to meet her soon to be daughter in-law. She was holding on tightly to her heavy nylon bags as she tried to board a bus.

Due to the heat and the fact that Lagos was naturally such a fast-paced city, everyone seemed to be in some hurry. The buses barely stopped and due to the things she held in hand, she was really slow. She finally got a bus which had slowed enough to accommodate her pace, but there was space for only one. A smartly dressed young woman brushed her aside and quickly got in. This made Mrs. Olu, Dan’s mom abruptly drop one of the nylon bags and a few of her yams divided. The young woman, now seated in the bus gave her a quick glance and said nothing more.

The look of shame and embarrassment were evident on Lucy’s face and before she could make any sorry excuses, Mama walked past and went into the kitchen.

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SOMETIMES, THE FIRST THING PEOPLE NOTICE ABOUT YOU EVEN BEFORE KNOWING YOUR NAME IS YOUR CHARACTER. HOW DOES IT DEFINE YOU?

Feel free to give that story whatever end you deem fit. However, also consider if Lucy had had a different attitude; think of how different the entire plot would have gone.

Character is the sum total of [your] attributes. It is a lifestyle full of values, or one lacking it.
The values you emit in your life either attract people to you, or sends them off. Therefore, let your character be full of values.

Character means integrity. Character is revealed in the way you treat people.

Being a person of character is being a person of values. Are you one?
What does your character reveal about you? WHO ARE YOU?

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Cheers to steady growth.

Sending LOVE and LIGHT your way,
Zoey.