Understanding your Character Defects: A guide to personal growth.
Personal development is an important aspect of our lives, but it requires delving into some of the less-than-savory aspects of ourselves and facing some hard truths. It’s not easy, but we all have character defects that we need to work on to become better versions of ourselves.
To get started, take a look at the columns of character defects and their corresponding opposite assets in this brilliant column from the fellowship. Try to select defects that resonate with you and that are present in your thinking, feelings, and behavior.
Once you’ve identified one or two character defects, don’t stop there and ruminate about how terrible you are. Instead, transform these labels into action points that will help you move from the defect and towards the associated asset. The key is to create a personal development plan.
Let’s say you identified “Avoidant” as a character defect. Your goal is to develop a greater sense of courage and willingness to face difficult situations.
Action plan:
- Reflect at the end of each day and identify patterns of avoidance and fear. Keep a list of situations or tasks that trigger avoidance.
- Take this list of tasks and situations and aim to gradually face fear at the next given opportunity. Break tasks or situations down into smaller, more manageable steps.
- Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques to manage anxiety and discomfort.
- Track your progress in a journal and celebrate achievements, no matter how small.
The key is to focus on progress, not perfection. It’s okay to stumble along the way, but it’s important to keep moving forward. Remember, the journey towards overcoming Avoidance or any other defect is not a one-time event, but a lifelong process of self-discovery and growth.
