The Fruit of our Character

Nature magically suits the man to his fortune by making these the fruit of his character. -- Ralph W. Emerson

We might experience some difficulty in finding out what we're really like by trying to look inward. But we have only to look about us - at our fortunes - for they are the fruit of our character. You would judge someone the same way you would judge an apple tree: by his fruit, by what he produces.

Any person who has had the chance to live as an adult for any appreciable length of time begins to collect about him what we call his fortunes. They represent a merciless mirror of him as a person. They reflect his nature.

We surround ourselves in an environment and circumstances which reflect us, and which include our true beliefs. No matter how loudly we talk about what we believe in, our circumstances reflect our true beliefs. They show to others what is important to us; they reflect our degree of maturity at any stage of our lives.

As we get older, our environment and circumstances should change to reflect the changing person. If they do not change, it is an indication that we are not changing. If they are not growing in quality, it is an indication that we are not growing and maturing as persons.

A person will grow in proportion to two main conditions: The first is his degree of receptivity to new ideas. The second is the source or sources of ideas; if our sources fortify the ideas that we already live by then there is no growth.

So who are your teachers and how open are you to the learning you must undertake in order to grow? How is that learning bearing the fruit of your life?