Character

The Life Story Challenge

Overview Video: The Future

The future is the part of your life that you haven't accessed yet, and as such, its possibilities are endless. In the next three discussions, you will have the opportunity to discover what you want your future to be by exploring character, goals, and relationships. 

Watch the video below to learn more.

Overview Video: Character

This discussion will focus on identifying the attributes of the person you want to become in the future and how you can start to develop those attributes today. In this discussion, each person will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on character and character development.

Pre-Discussion Preparation

We have included the following activities to help you prepare for the discussion: 

  • You may want to read the discussion questions and contemplate your answers to them in preparation for the upcoming conversation with your group members. 

  • Try to come up with at least three statements that answer the question, “Who do I want to become?” If you want additional insight into understanding who you are now and who you want to become, we have included a few questions that may help: 

    • How would you describe yourself to another person? How would you like to describe yourself to another person?

    • What do you like most about yourself?

    • What is life asking of you? What person does your situation need?

    • What do you want people to say in your eulogy?

    • Think about your role models. What character traits do they have that you admire?

Discussion Questions

Below are a series of questions that may help facilitate your discussion. There is no need to answer every question; instead, feel free to focus on the questions that members of your group seem most excited about. 

  • Think of someone who has admirable character qualities and describe them to the group. What can they teach you about character?

  • What was your experience like brainstorming the person you want to become? Did you know intuitively the character traits you wanted to develop? Or was it more difficult to identify them? Why do you think that was?

  • How can you find a balance between maintaining your uniqueness and developing new character traits? Do you find the two at odds? Why or why not?  

  • How can you foster self-love as you work toward becoming the person you want to be?

  • There are many things that can influence the person you are today, including your social groups, the media, the region you live in, cultural expectations, and societal pressures. With all of these influences, how can you identify your authentic self? What are some practices that can help you embrace your truest self?

Post-Discussion Activities

Below are two activities that you can complete after the discussion to deepen your learning and to prepare you to write your life story: 

  • Write a brief paragraph describing the person you want to become. Try to include concrete details on what qualities and behaviors define that person.

  • Record any important takeaways from both your own thoughts and those shared by others during the discussion.

Overview Video Research

  1. George, M. I. (2017). What moral character is and what it is not. The Linacre Quarterly, 84(3), pp. 261–274. doi: 10.1080/00243639.2017.1338442

  2. Havighurst, R. J., & Taba, H. (1949). Adolescent character and personality. Wiley.

  3. Sweeney, P. J., & Fry, L. W. (2012). Character development through spiritual leadership. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 64(2), 89–107. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028966

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