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Build Your Character
"What the world today needs is character," says Vivekãnanda. A man without character is like a wild bull let loose in a cornfield. Every fool may become a hero at one time or another, but the people of good character are heroes all the time. Establishing good character means acquiring established wisdom (pratishthita prajna). Nothing great can be achieved in life without a good character.
The character of an individual is the aggregate of his mental tendencies. If good tendencies prevail, the character becomes good and if evil tendencies prevail, the character becomes evil. When an individual performs good work and continuously thinks virtuous thoughts, there is an irresistible force in him to be good and to do good. One's good character is said to be established when one is under complete control of his good tendencies.
We live by our habits and habit is the "second nature" of man. One's character is essentially a pattern of repeated habits. Therefore, develop good habits. Be aware of your habits at all times and counteract bad habits with better ones. Value time and be punctual. Never think, "It does not matter if I arrive on time when everyone else comes half-an-hour late." It does matter, since you are the one who can set an example for everyone else. As they say, "two wrongs don't make a right."
Time management is a critical factor for success in today's world. Since you cannot do everything that crosses your mind, prioritize your work. Develop the habit of using things-to-do lists to help you perform the daily chores around the house and at the work-place or wherever you may be.
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