Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullah,
So I was listening to the radio about a book called 'Quiet' the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talk - mashaAllah it's a very good read.
The author brings up a point that just struck me. She talks of personality versus character. That before one was taught character, to be moral, upright, honest, good etc so children had a value based upbringing. Now, however, we see the status quo has shifted - a huge shift - but in a subtle way; from character to personality.
A person is now judged on their personality. So it is made easier and easier to train oneself to have a good personality, an outward facade - that's all that matters. And I think we don't even realise but our society is developing a 'switch' system. Switch on the personality when its needed and switch it off when the camera stops rolling. Because we see a person may have an A-mazing personality but their personal life may be a mess due to weak character.
It just made me think. So character building is the long standing trait acquired through discipline similar to the idea of tassawuf. Personality - more the manmade stuff from the great industrialised era. No?
I'm making huge generalisations here. Any thoughts?
Regardless. The books good.
So I was listening to the radio about a book called 'Quiet' the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talk - mashaAllah it's a very good read.
The author brings up a point that just struck me. She talks of personality versus character. That before one was taught character, to be moral, upright, honest, good etc so children had a value based upbringing. Now, however, we see the status quo has shifted - a huge shift - but in a subtle way; from character to personality.
A person is now judged on their personality. So it is made easier and easier to train oneself to have a good personality, an outward facade - that's all that matters. And I think we don't even realise but our society is developing a 'switch' system. Switch on the personality when its needed and switch it off when the camera stops rolling. Because we see a person may have an A-mazing personality but their personal life may be a mess due to weak character.
It just made me think. So character building is the long standing trait acquired through discipline similar to the idea of tassawuf. Personality - more the manmade stuff from the great industrialised era. No?
I'm making huge generalisations here. Any thoughts?
Regardless. The books good.
