There are many good sites listing character qualities and their defintitions. Today I will give you one hundred character qualities from “Character That Counts.” More links (with definitions and action steps!) will follow tomorrow. The site that has these listed as given below is https://www.characterthatcounts.org/hundredpluscharqualnew.html
If you are not in the habit of praising your children for good character (or calling them “character names”–see yesterday), I encourage you to do so. Having good character is something that is within our children’s control–and something that we want to challenge them in. They will be better siblings, friends, spouses, parents, workers, ministers–everything–if they build positive character into their lives. Yep, character training–just another of the many jobs we parents have! 🙂
100 CHARACTER QUALITIES
ALERTNESS: Being keenly aware of the events taking place around me so that I can have the right responses to them.
ATTENTIVENESS: Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration.
AVAILABILITY: Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve.
BENEVOLENCE: Giving to others’ basic needs without expectations of personal reward.
BOLDNESS: Demonstrating the confidence and courage that doing what is right will bring ultimate victory regardless of present opposition.
BREADTH: Having depth and broadness, in words and deeds, within the heart and mind.
BROTHERLINESS: Exhibiting a kinship and disposition to render help because of a relationship.
CANDOR: Speaking the truth at the time when the truth should be spoken. This is done through openness, fairness and sincerity.
CAUTION: Knowing to be alert and prudent in a hazardous or dangerous situation.
CHEERFUL: Expressing encouragement, approval and/or congratulations at the proper time.
CHIVALRY: Protecting the weak, the suffering and the neglected by maintaining justice and rightness.
COMMITMENT: Devoting myself to following up on my words (promises, pledges or vows) with action.
COMPASSION: Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others by the willingness to bear their pain.
CONFIDENCE: Placing full trust and belief in the reliability of a person or thing.
CONSISTENCY: Following constantly the same principles, course or form in all circumstances; holding together.
CONTENTMENT: Accepting myself as God created me with my gifts, talents, abilities and opportunities.
COURAGE: Fulfilling my responsibilities and standing up for convictions in spite of being afraid.
CREATIVITY: Approaching a need, a task or an idea from a new perspective.
DECISIVENESS: Learning to finalize difficult decisions on the basis of what is right, not popular or tempting.
DEFERENCE: Limiting my freedom to speak and act in order to not offend the tastes of others.
DEPENDABILITY: Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice.
DETERMINATION: Working intently to accomplish goals regardless of the opposition.
DILIGENCE: Visualizing each task as a special assignment and using all my energies to accomplish it.
DISCERNMENT: Seeking to use intuitive ability to judge situations and people; understanding why things happen to me and others.
DISCIPLINE: Receiving instruction and correction in a positive way; maintaining and enforcing proper conduct in accordance with the guidelines and rules.
DISCRETION: Recognizing and avoiding words, actions and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences.
ENDURANCE: Exercising inward strength to withstand stress and do my best in managing what occurs in my life.
ENTHUSIASM: Expressing lively, absorbing interest in each task as I give it my best effort.
FAIRNESS (EQUITY): Looking at a decision from the viewpoint of each person involved.
FAITH: Developing an unshakable confidence in God and acting upon it.
FAITHFULNESS: Being thorough in the performance of my duties; being true to my words, promises and vows.
FEAR OF THE LORD: Having a sense of awe and respect for Almighty God which goes above and beyond anyone else or anything.
FIRMNESS: Exerting a tenacity of will with strength and resoluteness. A willingness to run counter to the traditions and fashions of the world.
FLEXIBILITY: Learning how to cheerfully change plans when unexpected conditions require it.
FORGIVENESS: Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding their past offenses against them.
FRIENDSHIP: Coming alongside another person for mutual support and encouragement.
GENEROSITY: Realizing that all I have (time, talents and treasures) belongs to God and freely giving of these to benefit others.
GENTLENESS: Learning to respond to needs with kindness, personal care and love.
GLADNESS: Abounding in joy, jubilation and cheerfulness.
GOAL-ORIENTED: Achieving maximum results toward the area where my effort is directed.
GOODNESS: Having moral excellence and a virtuous lifestyle; a general quality of proper conduct.
GRATEFULNESS: Making known to others by my words and actions how they have benefited my life.
GREATNESS: Demonstrating an extraordinary capacity for achievement.
HOLINESS: Having no blemish or stain. Being whole with no trace of regret or remorse.
HONESTY: Proclaiming the truth with sincerity and frankness in all situations.
HONOR: Respecting those in leadership because of the higher authorities they represent.
HOPE: Feeling that my deepest desire will be realized and that events will turn out for the best.
HOSPITALITY: Sharing cheerfully food, shelter and my life with those whom I come in contact.
HUMILITY: Seeing the contrast between what is perfect and my inability to achieve that perfection.
INDIGNATION: Channeling the driving passion of righteous anger without sinning.
INITIATIVE: Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
INTEGRITY: Being whole and complete in moral and ethical principles.
JOYFULNESS: Knowing how to be pleasant regardless of the outside circumstances which ultimately lifts the spirits of others.
JUSTICE: Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right and true.
KINDNESS: Demonstrating a gentle, sympathetic attitude towards others.
KNOWLEDGE: Becoming acquainted with facts, truths or principles through study and investigation.
LEADERSHIP: Guiding others toward a positive conclusion.
LOVE: Having a deep personal attachment and affection for another person.
LOYALTY: Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to others or to what is right.
MEEKNESS: Yielding my power, personal rights and expectations humbly with a desire to serve.
NARROWNESS: Staying within established boundaries and limits.
OBEDIENCE: Fulfilling instructions so that the one I am serving will be fully satisfied and pleased.
OPTIMISM: Endeavoring to see all the possibilities and capacities of the human heart; confident, hopeful and never doubtful.
ORDERLINESS: Learning to organize and care for personal possessions to achieve greater efficiency.
ORIGINALITY: Creating “new” thinking, ideas and expanding truths from an independent viewpoint.
PASSIONATE: Having an intense, powerful or compelling emotion and feelings towards others or something.
PATIENCE: Accepting difficult situations and without demanding a deadline to remove it.
PEACEFULNESS: Being at rest with myself and others.
PERSUASIVENESS: Guiding another’s mental roadblocks by using words which cause the listener’s spirit to confirm the spoken truth.
POISE: Being totally balanced in mind, body and spirit.
PRAYERFUL: Communing with God spiritually through adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.
PROSPERITY: Flourishing or being successful, especially pertaining to financial issues.
PRUDENCE: Exhibiting caution, humbleness and wisdom in regards to practical matters.
PUNCTUALITY: Showing respect for other people by respectfully using the limited time they have.
PURE SPEECH: Speaking words that are clean, spotless and without blemish.
PURITY: Freeing yourself from anything that contaminates or adulterates.
PURPOSEFUL: Exercising determination to stay on track until the goal is achieved.
REASONABLENESS: Having a sound mind by being level headed, sane and demonstrating common sense.
RESOURCEFULNESS: Using wisely that which others would normally overlook or discard.
RESPECT: Honoring and esteeming another person due to deep admiration.
RESPONSIBILITY: Knowing and doing what is expected from me.
REVERENCE: Learning to give honor where it is due and to respect the possessions and property of others.
RIGHTEOUSNESS: Acting in a moral and upright way that honors God, regardless of who is watching.
SECURITY: Structuring my life around what is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away.
SELF-CONTROL: Bringing my thoughts, words, actions and attitudes into constant obedience in order to benefit others.
SENSITIVITY: Being aware and attentive to the true attitudes and emotional needs of those around me.
SERVANTHOOD: Caring for and meeting the needs of others before caring for myself.
SINCERITY: Endeavoring to do what is right, without ulterior motives.
STEWARDSHIP: Administering and managing personal and financial affairs effectively.
TEACHABILITY: Demonstrating a willingness to learn or be trained without any reservations or hindrances.
THANKFULNESS: Expressing deep gratitude and appreciation to people and to God.
THOROUGHNESS: Executing something perfectly with the realization that each of my tasks will be reviewed.
THOUGHTFULNESS: Showing consideration for others through acts of kindness and/or words.
THRIFTINESS: Preventing not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary.
TOLERANCE: Learning to accept others as valuable individuals regardless of their maturity.
TRANSPARENCY: Allowing others to shine a light on my life for the purpose of being accountable.
TRUTHFULNESS: Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.
TRUST or TRUSTWORTHY: Believing completely and totally in someone or something.
UNDERSTANDING: Exhibiting strong intelligence and a sound mind in comprehending and discerning matters.
VIRTUE: Learning to build personal moral standards which will cause others to desire a greater moral life.
VISIONARY: Dreaming not inhibited by the unknown. Looking beyond problems by creating successful solutions.
VULNERABILITY: Being open to receive constructive criticism and guidance.
WISDOM: Learning to see and respond correctly to life situations with keen judgment; the application of knowledge.
WORSHIP: Honoring God reverently.
Adapted from several sources including “Institute in Basic Conflicts” by Bruce Bickel; Character First! program and “The Character of Jesus” by Charles Edward Jefferson.
