Continuing Character When Times Get Tough

As I'm writing this, I'm in the stage of frantically Google-ing the answers for my finance homework that is due in about 20 minutes. Screw trying to actually figure out how to do the problem; I just need it done so I can get the grade. Why did they even give us homework over Thanksgiving break? I've absolutely adopted the mindset that when I go home, I don't do homework. Why should I? I go home to see my family, friends, and even my girlfriend when we are both home, I don't go home to do homework. That's my own personal qualm; I fight with myself constantly about trying to make my bad habits go away and work towards my ideal self. But character is in fact a personal thing; I can think clearly of that saying that says, "Sometimes what's right is not always popular; sometimes what's popular is not always right." I could have absolutely sat myself down and done the homework before I left school, but I didn't. Why is that? We all have our individual boundaries of willpower. For some, they have that discipline and they can get whatever is on their workload done with the flip of a switch. For others, it's not so easy. We all seem to convince ourselves that next week, or tomorrow, or after I take this test or hand in this assignment, we can switch into the habits that we want. And we do... for a day. But in our super-demanding, completely impatient society that we all live in, it lasts just a day and then we forget about our goals and slide right back into our old ways. Now I'm sure the habits that we try to change are overwhelming problems; it's not like we are serial killers looking to stop or bank robbers looking to get rid of the itch, but nonetheless, we all have our annoyances that aggravate us or others to the point of trying to change it to make ourselves better. We have to remember the fact that we are all human, and that generally, we all live rather long lives. And in living a long life, we are subject to learning more and more about life with every day that passes. As much technology as we have, we are not computers, and we cannot just input a formula to change ourselves. We are meant to live a life faced with challenges, so that we can learn more about ourselves in trying to overcome them. Computers can do a lot yes, but they are literally no match for what the human mind can do. Continuing character when times get tough is necessary for us to live successful lives. We live in a world where we get judged by everyone, for everything, whether it's your fault or not. You need to think about those positive qualities that are generally accepted by everyone, and those you especially strive for, and make a step by step plan to change yourself for the better. It won't happen overnight, you can bet the bank on that; it takes a lot of hard work, discipline, commitment, and sacrifice. Make a note for yourself, and leave it somewhere where you will always see it, that way you can throw out the excuse of forgetting about it. And don't let that laziness rot your brain neither; I haven't figured out why it is laziness is always present inside us, but it is, and it ain't too good of a friend. I've got my own habits that I'd like to get rid of, as you can see. The life I want to live is a great one, and I know I can also have a lot of fun with life while practicing great character too. Let me know what you want to change, the steps, and how it turns out. That's just how I feel. - Doug