Character is the ability to get one’s self to do the difficult things that produce the desired results. In other words, I believe that for the most part, achieving success—whatever that is for you—is mostly a matter of personal choice and that, initially, making the right choices can be difficult. However, because of the law of nature that pushing your boundaries will make you stronger, which will lead to improved results that will motivate you, the more you operate in your “stretch zone,” the more you adapt and the less character it takes to operate
So, if you don’t let up on yourself, i.e., if you operate with the same level of “pain,” you will naturally evolve at an accelerating pace. Because I believe this, I believe that whether or not I achieve my goals is a test of what I am made of. It is a game that I play, but this game is for real. In the next part I explain how I go about playing it.
“Character is the ability to get one’s self to do the difficult things that produce the desired results” -Ray Dalio
We often say that something challenging will “Build Character.”
Then people roll their eyes.
What we don’t acknowledge often enough is the feedback loop.
All things in life have a feedback loop.
These loops allow continued, accelerated growth.
They require us to apply energy to keep the loop connected.
Sometimes there is a chain reaction where that energy comes from within.
More often than not, the energy must be explicitly applied.
Applying that energy is hard.
Applying that energy requires dedication and drive.
Applying energy requires making a choice, the right choice.
This is how we reach our goals.
We choose to do the hard thing.
The thing that builds character.
The thing that took character.
Here is the beauty.
Making that choice the first time is easy.
It only takes a little character.
We are excited and ambitious in the beginning.
Dedication and Consistency with the application of Character makes us stronger.
Tomorrow, next week, next month, something will distract us.
An easier choice is going to come up.
We will want to take that choice.
For a first order, instant satisfaction.
Character will help us make the right choices.
Character helps us push through.
As it grows in strength it helps us more.
Character is what we are made of.
Achieving our goals is a test of what we are made of.
We get to each keep growing.
To achieve greater and greater goals.