Solutions October 2018 | Page 31

An d let’s b e h o n es t: ch aracter
development is far more painful than
skill development. Working on your
character forces you to go into the
crags and crevices of your heart. It
encourages you to look at your past
to forge a better future. It makes you
look in the mirror.
same way you develop a muscle: by
exercising it.
E xc e r p t e d f ro m Didn’ t S ee It Co mi n g :
Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges
That No One Expects and Everyone Experiences.
Copyright © 2018 by Carey Nieuwhof.
Published by WaterBrook, an imprint of
Penguin Random House LLC.
When you tackle your character,
though, things get uncomfortable.
The blaming stops. The excuses get
pushed to the side. And honesty—
painful honesty—is required. You
finally have to deal with you. Which
explains why it’s so much easier to
keep focusing on your competency
and keep compromising your
character. Character is one of those
ethereal concepts that doesn’t feel
actionable because it seems so
airy. But actually that’s not true. You
can develop your character in the
Carey Nieuwhof
Pastor, podcaster and thought leader Carey Nieuwhof
is a former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus
Church, one of the largest and most influential
churches in Canada. He’s the author of Didn’t See It
Coming: Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges
That No One Expects and Everyone Experiences. With
more than 6 million downloads, The Carey Nieuwhof
Leadership Podcast features today’s top leaders and
cultural influencers. He and his wife, Toni, reside near
Barrie, Ontario, and have two children. Visit him at
careynieuwhof.com.
Solutions • 31