The brand of clothing you wear, the type of car you drive, the way you style your hair, these are nothing more than a fad. Most fads go out of style and when it does the chase to be a somebody begins again.

You start by copying the current trends of your friends. Then you expand your circle by checking out the rich and famous to get a glimpse of the latest and greatest. You are looking for something, but you know whatever you find is temporary. Deep down inside, you realize that being a part of a fad will not bring you lasting joy. Anything you do, will only momentarily satisfy your need to belong until the next fad comes along.

You can’t fix interior issues by masking it with an exterior coat of paint.

There is one fad that will never go out of style – having good character. The thoughts you think, the emotions you feel and the way you behave combine to create your character. People judge your character based on the words you say, the actions you take, and the promises you keep.

Your character is the one fad that will always stand the test of time.

We all know that this world can be a lonely and harsh place. There are people lurking around the corner waiting to seduce you, cheat you, buy you, tempt you, and change you. The only defense against this brutality is deep understanding of who you are and what you stand for. If you can do this, you become untouchable in life.

With character, you will no longer be a lemming following a crowd. You become your own person, carving out your own path. Character gives you the confidence to think for yourself and an interior compass that leads you towards the right decisions. There is no better way to avoid the toxicities of life than to understand what you believe and why you believe it.

So the next time you get caught up in the latest fad, remember that kindness, compassion, humility, generosity, and integrity are all character traits that will never go out of style. They are also free, as they only appear after hours and hours of hard work.

How do you build character?

Simple, be a good person and do the right thing. Rinse and repeat.