Character versus Reputation

Ego cares a lot about reputation. Reputation is how others see you. The ego acts in a way to create a desired reputation.

That reputation may not be indicative of the person at all. It is only a perception, an image that we see.

As kids, our parents used to warn us about our reputation. Be careful what you do, you don't want a bad reputation. It was the one thing we had to continuously protect like a carton of eggs. It must not get broken.

I always thought that character was derived from reputation. It has no relation at all.

Reputation is how others perceive you. Character is what you do when no one else is looking.

Which would you rather have?

A person of outstanding character will not be swayed by ego. She will always do what is right, even when no one else would know the difference. Ego asks us to do what is right for self, not for what is right for others.