Who Are You When No One Is Watching?
“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” ~ John Wooden
Who are you when the camera stops rolling? Are you really a kind person, or does your kindness come with conditions & stipulations? Do you truly embody authenticity, compassion, and empathy? Or are they simply tools for manipulation to be used to support the illusion you’ve created? Tools used to create your next photo-op, interview, or social media post. Do you truly seek value in your connections, or is their worth determined by the size of their platform and the doors they can potentially open for you? Are your motives pure? For someone with good intentions, these questions will be easy to answer. But for those with questionable character, this mirror will be avoided at all costs.
“The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.” ~ Thomas Babington Macaulay
What behavior do you display when the stadium is empty? When the crowd is absent, the lights have been turned off, and the cameras have been stored away, who do you become? Are you consistently you, or does your behavior depend upon the moment? You may be able to fool most people, but energy doesn’t lie. Someone sensitive to energy will see through your veil. Please know that not everyone will be blinded by your artificial light.
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.” ~ J. C. Watts
Are you selectively nice to people? Some people only value the attention others give them, but not the whole person. They’ll indulge others if their egos are being supplied with fuel but will quickly devalue & discard them when they’re no longer deemed useful. Using others for their energy while simultaneously disrespecting them behind their backs. Does this describe you? Do you treat people as though they’re disposable? Is their worth strictly determined by how good they make you feel? Being selectively nice doesn’t make you a nice person. Just because your vocabulary consists of kind empathetic words doesn’t mean they will be genuinely felt. Energy is everything.
“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” ~ Spencer Johnson
Integrity speaks its own language. Those with integrity will know when you’re butchering the language. They understand the nuances, the slang, and the unspoken code. They’ll recognize when your actions aren’t in alignment with your words. Your dishonesty, both to yourself and others, will be impossible to hide. Assess your thoughts and intentions. If they’re pure, then carry on. If not, ask yourself why. Then do what’s necessary to change course. Manipulation can get you in the door. Integrity will award you the key to the door.
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