Self-Measuring Questions Regarding Character

For this making Men newsletter, I want to share with you a passage from How to Choose the Right Vocation by Holmes W. Merton that was originally published in 1917. In a section of the book, he poses some self-measuring questions when it comes to character. After reading these questions, I knew I had to share them.

Read over them, and do your own self-assessment about your character. Then think about if you’re happy with your answers or not. If not, then you may have some work to do. That’s for each of us to decide.

Self-Measuring Questions Concerning Character

Am I conscientious or careless in meeting my financial obligations? When pressed for sufficient money for current expenses, do I spend what money I may get on my own enjoyment or do I apply it in settlement of my accounts with the butcher, grocer, and tailor?

Am I punctual, dependable, and strictly honest or am I dilatory, unreliable, and unregardful of other people’s time, energies, and belongings?

Do I believe in scrupulously “sticking to the truth?” Do I report conversations, incidents, and things that I have read with fine respect for the truth and, if I can not remember the facts distinctly, do I frankly admit it; or do I “embroider the facts as pleases my fancy or to win favor with my hearers?”

In my mind does “putting the best foot forward” mean taking one’s misfortunes as graciously as may be and making the most of limited means and opportunity or does it imply stretching the truth in self-justification or pushing one’s interest to the detriment of others?

Having made an agreement or appointment and, later, desiring to break it, do I do so in a straightforward manner or do I invent seemingly plausible excuses for breakng it?

Does an injury or injustice inflicted upon another arouse my indignation or do I mentally say, “It’s no concern of mine?”

When I have made a mistake or have misinterpreted the acts or motives of another, am I willing to acknowledge my error and desirous to make reparation if it be possible to do so?

Am I as faithful when working for an employer as when working solely for my own profit?

Can I fearlessly scrutinize my ulterior motives and my business dealings or do I sometimes salve my conscience with the sophistry “business is business?”

If I were an employer and had the power, would I feel justified in grinding my employees down to the lowest living wage?

Am I spontaneously frank and direct in my social and business relations or am I evasive, suave, or hypocritical?

Do I possess an integral conscience or have I one section for Sundays and religion and another section for the weekdays and business?

Some great thought-provoking questions there. Think about them this week.

- Mick