Marcus reminded himself that he could not control what others believed about him, only what he actually did. Reputation is a kind of rumor; it lives in other people's heads and changes with their moods. Character lives in your own actions, and it is the one thing truly yours. When you find yourself bending a choice to manage how you will look, pause and ask the quieter question: what is the right thing here, regardless of who is watching? It is freeing to stop performing. You spend so much energy guessing at the audience. Put it instead into being the kind of person you would respect, and let the opinions land where they land.

Inspired by the old idea of character over reputation. Written by Ugo Charles.