Right thoughts, right words, right actions........

Song 'Right Action' by Franz Ferdinand:

"Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike."
- Theodore Roosevelt

"Integrity is the foundation upon which all other values are built."
- Brian Tracy

"Character is made by what you stand for; reputation by what you fall for."
- Robert Quillen

True character revealed in the movie 'Cruel Intentions':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AGhqOkUphU

Man of his word / Woman of his word: A person you can trust because s/he tells the truth and keeps promises.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+man+of+his+word

"The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."
- Thomas Babington

"To help one's self esteem, a person needs to look at themselves in a realistic and open manner. A person needs to understand that they are worth something in this world, that people are inherently good and try to do well by others...."
- John M. Grohol, Self esteem and a Sense of Self, http://psychcentral.com/archives/senseself.htm
(Sixth quote for song #9 in LifeLessonsForAll.com 2013 Top Ten List, https://www.lifelessonsforall.com/TopTenList.html)

From the song 'Bad' by Michael Jackson:

I'm bad, I'm bad,
You know it,
I'm bad.

Goody-goody or Goody Two Shoes - A nice, sweet, friendly person who is seen by others as "good".

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/goody-two-shoes.html

Remember bad, bad Leroy Brown from the movie 'Crocodile Dundee II"? Why was he pleased or proud to be known as bad?

#lifelessonsforalldotcom

People usually think someone labeled as "bad" has a character problem, but what if it is a protective shell?

#lifelessonsforalldotcom

Just about everyone has been bad.....

"We all do things we desperately wish we could undo. Those regrets just become part of who we are, along with everything else. To spend time trying to change that, well, it's like chasing clouds."
- Libba Bray
(Third quote used with song #4 in LifeLessonsForAll.com's 2013 Top Ten List, https://www.lifelessonsforall.com/2013TopList.html)

#lifelessonsforalldotcom #character #bad #regrets #topten #winning

Rebel - A person who resists authority or control.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rebel

From the song 'I Look To You' by Whitney Houston:

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun.
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to?

"The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do."
- Jon Holt

From the article 'Is There A Need To Change That Thing You Dislike?' by Fahmeena Moore:

Most would agree some situations should never be tolerated. Examples are abuse, sexual harassment and discrimination. But what about that job that drives you crazy or that annoying neighbor? Many people would think of “changing” that job by getting a new one or “changing” that neighbor by moving. Some people may try to “change” that job by dealing with the problem – by trying to work out their differences with an individual, for example. The quote above mentions an alternative: change the way you think about the job or that neighbor.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140814212016-6733373-is-there-a-need-to-change-that-thing-you-dislike

"What if someone is causing you pain and suffering that manifests as an attitude problem?
May explain the Naomi Campbell story from yesterday. Babies cry and fuss when they are hungry or sick. Should someone looking at a sick or hungry baby say that he has an attitude problem.

"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
- Albert Einstein

Blue collar worker: a low-class worker or worker in "low places"?

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bluecollar.asp

Described as temperamental (basically a "low life" for attacking others). But maybe there is more to the story.

What do you conclude about Naomi Campbell's character from this story:

Naomi Campbell attacking others -

http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-whendivasattack/4/

Do you associate with people in "low places"?

Song 'I've Got Friend In Low Places':

Jesus Chist ate and drink with sinners because they needed his help. But he appeared to be a "low life" for doing so.

Mark 2:16-17 (NIV): When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw (Jesus) eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

"You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise."
- Seneca

What is the character of someone who puts others down or "bad mouths" them?

"Never does a man portray his own character more vividly than in his manner of protraying another."
- Jean Paul Michter

Sometimes it is difficult to forgive but there is usually a need to forgive others to release the anger and pain. It may also build character.

From the song 'I Learned From The Best' by Whitney Houston:

Did you really think that 
I would really take you back?
Let you back in my heart one more time.
Did you think that I'd still care 
That there'd be more feeling there,
Did you think you could walk back in my life?
So you found you miss the love you threw away. 
Baby but you found it out too late.

And so now you know the way it feels to cry,
The way that I cried when you broke my world in two. 
Baby I learned the way to break a heart,
I learned from the best. 
I learned from you.

Playboy / Player / Ladies man - a man who usually hides his true intention.
Makes me think of the movie 'A Thin Line Between Love And Hate.'

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=player

Unless you are holy and righteous, secret and hidden things done for praise and glory would be wrong.

"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that may be praised by others.... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret..."
- Holy Bible (ESV), Matthew 6:2-4

"One man cannot do right in one department of life whilst he is occupied in doing wrong in any other department. Life is one indivisible whole."
- Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi

From the song 'Another Day In Paradise' by Phil Collins:

She calls out to the man in the street,
"Sir, can you help me. It's cold, I have no place to sleep. Is there some place you can tell me?"
He walks on, doesn't look back,
He pretends he can't hear her.
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street,
Seems embarrassed to be there.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good."
- Ann Landers

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
- Abraham Lincoln

Spendthrift - soneone who spends extravagantly.
Is a spendthrift reckless or has an extravagant personality?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spendthrift

"A person shows what he is by what he does with what he has."
- Anonymous

Theme for the week: Deciphering Character
(Continuin last week's theme - Character -focusing on the signs of one's character - how to tell who a person really is).
Please submit ideas or suggestions.