Character is who we are when things work out differently than expected. Personality is who you are when things are normal. To build great character, we have to discipline ourselves to do the right thing regardless of circumstances.
For example, if we’re visiting home, and we have a workout routine or a cadence for when we sleep, we should not self sacrifice by changing our routine for the sake of being with family. Of course, there will be exceptions, like Christmas or Thanksgiving or other important dates where the value of the time together outweighs the personal benefit for that single day. In general though, we should stay true to ourselves and our mission because it will make us happier in the long term, which will also diffuse into the people close to us.
This is an example of sacrificing in the short term for long term benefits. We might find it hard to hold our character during unstable circumstances, but that’s when it counts most. Our identity is forged when we walk through flames, and not when we are walking recreationally through the park; we only truly decide who we are when life gets tough; we decide who we are in our defining moments. When we fight for ourselves to come out of it stronger, we prove to ourselves that we are willing to do what it takes to succeed no matter the circumstance.
We have to be willing to put ourselves out there in order to become the people we want ourselves to be. Our defining moments come from the time we spend fighting for who we want to be. And only through these defining moments can we decide who we are. Life is meant to be lived, we are meant to succeed, and our best life comes from persistence at character development.