BETWEEN CHARACTER AND REPUTATION.
Different dictionaries define the two words as:
Character:
The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
The complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person.
The stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life which determines his or her response regardless of circumstances.
Reputation:
The general opinion or judgment of the public about a person or thing.
The state of being held in high esteem.
A widespread ascription of a character or trait to a person or thing.
With the level of sophistication our world has achieved, one is easily tempted to regard character for reputation and vice versa. This is made worse by the deliberate efforts of individuals or groups to conceal their character and project a “created” reputation about how they want the world to see them.
In a sentence, one could say that character is who you really are while reputation is a public perception of what people think about you. Character seems to be more of a genetic and psychological thing while reputation is more or less a shield we create to conceal us from public criticism. Like Abraham Lincoln said “reputation is the shadow while character is the tree”.
Our character is much more than just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character for instance is doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Our character is what determines how we respond to the situations and circumstances of life. Like our fourth definition of character puts “it is the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life which determine his or her response regardless of circumstances”. For instance, a person with a strong quality of honesty is more likely to accurately report the facts in a given situation than a person who is deceptive. Arrogance and humility, patience and in patience, all these virtues are linked to the character of a person.
Reputation which is our way of creating a smoke screen to deceive unsuspecting individuals of our true form is most times done because the person or group involved do not have a proficient character to portray so instead of facing the shame of critics, they build a false reputation. It is on a similar note that issues of relationship breaks, scandals, character assassinations, betrayals etc come about. Since the idea is to convey an obviously bad image to contradict your supposedly good reputation which amounts to been a double standard, people, friends and family get disappointed when news reach them about your character that contradicts the reputation you have built before them. An altar boy served a priest for 10 years without the priest knowing that the boy was a cultist until the day the boy was killed. He was not only shocked by the news but wondered how such a “good” boy ended up that way. This amongst many other stories are common scenes we encounter daily in our homes amongst children and parents; in schools amongst students and their teachers; at work amongst employers and employees; in politics amongst politicians and the electorate; in churches amongst pastors/church leaders and their members and so on.
To better protect your reputation, your character must be given fore most attention. Like a man said “if you take care of your character, your reputation will take care of itself”. Benjamin Franklin also emphasized this by saying “it takes many good deeds to build a good reputation and only one bad one to lose it”. So it is imperative that we should concern ourselves more with building character which is our true reflection rather than reputation which is people’s opinion about us.
Our world will be a better place with minimal scandals if individuals and groups redirect the energy they put into building a false reputation or brand and put it into character reformation. Surprises will be less if people go into relationships clearly defining who they really are to their partner. Governance and administration will be more progressive if government clearly opens up on their methods rather than relying on propaganda. You will be a better person if you stop struggling to be a different person to everyone you meet.
We are who we are made to be and if we fail to project that true image of ourselves, we will not only be insulting the work of our creator but will also be living in deception.
Choose character over reputation today and watch your life fall back in line. Suffice to say that if your life has been built on a false reputation, making a decision to change today will come with a lot of sacrifices but I can assure you that it is worth the effort because that will be the only move that will guarantee you freedom.
To wrap it up, August Wilson said “confront the dark part of yourself and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing”. Nothing beats a true character. Be who you were made to be. Cheers to a new life...
Akpem Terese Shadrach
Terese990@gmail.com
08074260519

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