The greatest victories…

The greatest victories are not on facebook, youtube, or even ESPN classic.  They’re just NOT.  The world wants you to think they are and that you are missing out if you don’t get yourself “out there” and noticed.

You see, the world wants you to focus on the reputation of others.  Normal humans gain pleasure from talking about their reputation in its most positive light and from exposing the reputation of others that are sorely lacking.  They gain pleasure from the sense that “at least I’m NOT as bad as” Tiger, Lindsay, or some other human that is close at hand.

The world wants you to focus on improving the way others see you.  Normal humans gain pleasure from you and I talking about their reputation and seeing them as one of “the good ones.”  Normal humans gain pleasure when the world describes them as a “good guy,” a “party animal,” a “success,” a “genius,” and someone who has got it going.  Normal humans are overly focused on what we think of them.  Funny, huh.

BTL builders focus on their character.  They understand that they cannot control their reputation, how others see them.  They just can NOT.

They can control who they are, what habits they are engraining on their hearts, and see their character flaws, just not all of them.  These weird ones understand that they have character flaws and gain pleasure by slowly working, wholeheartedly, to close them down.  They LOVE closing their own integrity gaps.  They build a more virtuous character today by this REAL, HARD, WORK within.  They invest little time making certain that you and I have noticed.  They seek feedback from those they LOVE, and listen for the nugget of truth from those they oppose.  AND, they allow others to tell the truth, even when it hurts.

This week, I’ve been on the receiving and sending side of such building.  AND, they’ve both been my great pleasure.

None of us ever arrives.  The best of us is always under construction and becoming.  Your reputation is for the world to decide.  Your character, you decide.

Where is your focus today?

Are you wrapped up in what others think?

Are you trying to put a pretty bow on some of your worst habits?

Are you hiding your addictions, looking away from your character flaws, and simply smiling and putting your best face forward?

Are you exposing more and more of your struggles, asking your true friends for help, closing down one integrity gap after another, and gaining pleasure through the process?

Are you thanking those that have the courage to tell you the truth, even when it hurts?

Remember, the greatest victories are always within.  Building your character slowly and strongly, priceless.

Thanks, my fellow builders, for helping me close a few of mine.  AND, thanks in advance, for your help in closing some more…