#CharacterMatters

During last weekend, you may have been enthralled by the unfolding of events in the presidential election of the USA - the political opinions, the observations, the predictions etc. However, this is not post about policies or political leanings. It is a post about people. 
 
At time of writing, the YouTube clip of CNN commentator Van Jones has been seen by four-and-half million people…and that’s only one posting of it. We saw it live and it was an extremely moving. He spoke very emotionally about how ‘character matters’. 

When we work on collaborative problem-solving, whether it be adults or children, one of the biggest hurdles to success is attitude. Not just our attitude towards solving the problem, but our attitude towards the people we are working with. 

​​Building community is not always easy. Maintaining community is not always easy. Repairing community is not always easy. However, it becomes easier when we approach each other with respect instead of animosity; when we listen instead of just speak; when we empathise instead of persecute; when we include instead of isolate; and, when we are truthful instead of deceitful.
 
Who we are is important. Our identity, our beliefs and our values make up our sense of self. How we are is a manifestation of those beliefs and values – the way we interact with other people – our character.
 
If we are to build communities which are fair and safe, then character matters. It matters not only in uniting people through commonalities but also how we manage and work through our differences to make things better for everyone not just a few.