Money comes and goes. Character comes and grows.

Money, too often, becomes the central focus of all of life. It becomes the be all and end all of existence. We need it for essentials, but should not let pursuit of it dictate our lives. Sometimes life takes unexpected turns and the money disappears. Those people we imagined to be friends may also leave when the money goes away.

But character developed over the long term is a prized possession. No one can take it away. When we invest in our character through developing integrity, compassion, courage and Self-confidence, and all of the multiple facets that create character, the returns will grow. The results will become essential to us and an integral part of who we are at the deepest, most profound level. No change in the outer situation – no loss of job, no change in relationships or even illness – can diminish it.

The character of truth, duty, peacefulness and contentment we develop will stay with us. It will grow when we continue to cultivate it and rely on the Divine principle. What aspects of your character will you choose to develop?

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.