Jelena Dincic
Are you resilient, brave, and determined?
Do you have a strong sense of self and refuse to change who you are for anyone?
Sure sounds to me like you’re a genuinely strong character!
Now, you may not have thought of yourself that way before, but if you display these 12 traits it’s because you possess a strength that has nothing to do with flexing muscles.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
1) You’re resilient
No matter what challenges life throws at you, you always seem to come out the other side stronger and wiser.
But you don’t just make it through the tough times.
You adjust and adapt. You learn. You look at setbacks as opportunities to reassess the situation and up your game.
Your resilience means that you approach challenges with a sense of hope and determination, so no matter what happens, you keep on going – defeat is not an option.
In short, your strength of character shines through your proactive approach to life where obstacles become stepping stones for personal growth and success.
2) You’re self-disciplined
Maybe your parents were very strict and made sure you were very disciplined as a child.
Or maybe they were lax and you had to learn to self-discipline.
Either way, when it comes to discipline, you’ve got it.
From being able to resist eating sweets when you’re on a diet (not my case) to staying home all weekend to finish a task for work, your genuinely strong character is evident from your willpower and self-control.
Just remember not to be too hard on yourself and to let yourself off the hook from time to time. Okay?
3) You’re brave
Being brave isn’t about the absence of fear. Rather, it’s about having the ability to confront and overcome that fear.
- If you’re brave it means you face fear and uncertainty head-on.
- It means you have the courage to pursue your convictions, even (and especially) in the face of adversity.
- It means you speak up when everyone else is silent.
- It means you have the guts to stand up to authority.
- It means you’re ready to give a voice to those who don’t have one.
- It means you aren’t afraid to risk your reputation, job, and relationships to do the right – not popular – thing.
If it sounds like I’ve just described you, there’s no doubt about you being a genuinely strong character!
4) You’re authentic
You never pretend to be someone you’re not, no matter whose company you’re in.
You have a deep knowledge of yourself and you’ve accepted yourself, for better or for worse.
And guess what?
The fact that you’re comfortable in your own skin is another trait of a strong character.
Personally, I wasn’t always so strong. All through my teens and well into my twenties I was so worried about what people thought of me, that I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere.
From how I dressed to what I said to my life experiences, everything was an opportunity for someone to judge me.
And then it just stopped.
I got to know myself and I stopped being afraid. I stopped trying to conform or please others, it was up to them to accept me just as I was.
5) You’re perseverent
Basically, you’re the type of person who when you fall off the horse, you get right back on.
To say you don’t give up easily would be a gross understatement because when you get something into your head, there’s no stopping you.
And when you don’t succeed at something, you don’t give up, you don’t feel sorry for yourself or beat yourself up, oh no!
You ask yourself “Why?” and you make sure not to make the same mistake twice.
When you want something – whether it’s a date with a certain someone or a promotion at work, you really go for it and you don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way.
6) You’re adaptable
Nothing is set in stone – plans fall through, circumstances change, people flake out… It’s up to us to be flexible and find a way to keep going.
Being adaptable means being able to adjust, evolve, and thrive in response to changing circumstances, new situations, and unexpected challenges.
But here’s the thing, people are creatures of habit and we like the familiar. For many, change can be a scary thing.
You have to be a genuinely strong character like yourself – flexible and willing to adjust your plans and expectations – to adapt easily.
7) You’re open-minded
The worldview of people with weak characters is rather limited.
Turns out they’re not really receptive to new ideas and fresh perspectives, probably because they see things as being either black or white and nothing in between.
But that’s not you!
You have an open and non-judgmental attitude toward new ideas, perspectives, experiences, and information.
You’re eager to talk to new people and hear what they have to say.
You love to travel and experience new things.
And best of all, you’re happy to adapt your opinions and beliefs based on evidence and reasoned arguments.
What really proves that you have a strong character is your curiosity and tolerance, as well as your ability to embrace diversity.
8) You’re fair
Another trait that shows you have a strong character is your fairness.
In a world where people often act with prejudice and favoritism, your commitment to fairness stands as a beacon of strength and justice.
Your principles of impartiality and equality mean that you believe that everyone, regardless of background or identity, should be treated with respect and dignity.
You hope that you’ll be able to inspire others to join in the collective effort to build a fairer and more compassionate world.
9) You’re optimistic
I often think about people who’ve made it through hardship and traumatic experiences and come out stronger.
I keep asking myself, “How did they do it?”
The answer I’ve come up with so far is simple – optimism.
It’s the only explanation. The belief that no matter what is happening right now, there is hope…
Tomorrow is a new day and a chance for a new beginning. Am I right?
10) You’re honest
The way I see it, telling lies and hiding the truth is a cowardly move.
Sure, sometimes the truth is ugly, but that’s when you can tell the strong characters from the weak ones.
Strong characters tell the truth, even when it may reflect badly on them. They own up to their mistakes and are ready to face the consequences.
If that sounds like you, then your honesty is another trait that proves you have a genuinely strong character.
11) You’re forgiving
There’s nothing easier than getting angry with someone and holding a grudge.
The hard part is being able to forgive the other person, and I mean really forgive them, in your heart, not just say it to them.
That’s what sets genuinely strong characters apart. They’re able to forgive and let go of resentment.
Now, sometimes, they may choose to cut someone out of their lives even if they’ve forgiven them.
Why?
Because forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting and when someone shows they’re not to be trusted, it would be foolish to remain friends with them.
The important thing is to be able to process what has taken place and to let go of any negative feelings associated with the event. That way you can move on with your life instead of carrying around the hurt with you.
12) You’re determined
The final trait of strong characters is determination.
When things get hard or don’t go according to plan, it’s tempting to give up and say, “This is too hard.”
But being determined means having a strong and unwavering commitment to achieving a goal or overcoming a challenge.
People like yourself usually have a very strong sense of purpose which helps them see their plans through.
