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What Defines You as a Person?
Some people think they’ll wake up one morning and their path in life will be as clear as day. Other folks wait for the perfect time to determine what matters most, while others don’t want to make a misstep. The problem is, if you don’t identify what matters most to you, you’ll never know if you’re heading in the right direction or off course. What defines you as a person?
In many ways, life is like driving. Would you get into your car without a destination in mind? Probably not. As Yogi Berra said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” Determine what’s important to you or you’ll react to situations rather than make conscious decisions based on sound reasoning. Consider these 15 questions:
- Are you striving for success or happiness?
- What are you willing to compromise to get what you want?
- What could you eliminate to gain more time each day?
- Is your goal self-satisfaction or acceptance from others?
- What percentage of your time is spent doing things that you enjoy most?
- Do you save money to consume or to buy peace of mind?
- Do you do most things because you want to or because you have to?
- What do you consider a higher priority — having more or being more?
- Are you willing to make sacrifices, today, to secure a better future?
- Do you let work demands interfere with your personal life?
- How much influence do others have on your priorities?
- Are you willing to forgo leisure time for money?
- How often do you say “I should have,” when you truly could have?
- Do you value possessions more than relationships?
- Do you pursue your goals or “go with the flow”?
Too often, we get so caught up in the day-to-day minutiae that we lose sight of the big picture. And when we finally take time to catch our breath, we look back in retrospect and want a do-over for the bad choices that we’ve made. What defines you as a person? If you don’t define your priorities, you won’t be conscious of them. If you don’t commit to your priorities, you won’t achieve them. When all is said and done, there are no dress rehearsals in life.
What Defines You as A Person?
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Additional Reading:
35 Questions to Inspire Self-Reflection
Living Life With a Purpose
Inner Peace is a Choice
The Secret to True Happiness
Change Your Priorities: Change Your Life
Bridge the Gap Between Your Real and Ideal Self
Your Job Doesn’t Define You
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Wonderful list, Frank, as usual. A slightly different take on your title of “What defines you as a person?” came up recently during an outing with my 13-year old granddaughter, Anya. She asked me to tell her “What makes you you?” and offered to start the dialogue by telling me what made her her. That led each of us into a fascinating set of “reveals” about ourselves. I, for example, said what makes me me were things like “I am extremely diligent. When I commit to do something, I will get it done. Sometimes that comes across as being too intense.” I also said, “I believe I am an extremely caring person.” Such a dialogue as a complement to your fine list may be of interest? Kind regards.
WOW Bob. That must have been an amazing conversation. She’s a very bright person to have asked you that question.
I’m going to take some time, today, to define what makes me me. I wonder how hard it’ll be to answer that question.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
I would enjoying reading some advice on greeting over past mistakes when you you left your emotions take over good moral thinking. thank you for your advise and wonderful guidance.
Hi Joan
You’re going to be tested throughout your life. You may be tempted to cheat to make yourself look good, stretch the truth to cover your behind, or do something unethical to get what you want. The challenge is that the right choice might not always be as clear as day. That’s when your actions reveal your true character.
It’s easy to say what you’ll do in theory, but your actions count most when the rubber meets the road. Your choice is clear. Will you live a life that makes you proud or choose a path of dishonor and deceit.
If you choose the path of honor and integrity, there may be some negative consequences. In fact, you may fall short of the prize that you had your heart set on; you may be forced to tell your boss you’re not comfortable with his or her request; or, if you did something wrong, you may have some explaining to do.
The prize for being honest is that, even though you may not win all the time, you’ll be true to yourself and your values. What’s that worth? Everything! Follow your conscience. You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Well said Frank. I read your insights frequently and am always inspired to do better afterwards…thank you for being such a great source of common sense and encouragement. Camilla
Thank you so much, Camilla. I truly appreciate your kind words.
Help me spread the word that moral character matters. Please share my posts with others who can benefit from the information 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank