Just because you are a character doesn’t mean that you have character. – Pulp Fiction

There is your persona, and there is your character.  Your persona is what most people see.  Your character is what they sense only if they really pay attention.  You can be a chest thumping loudmouth as a persona, but be a sniveling coward on the inside.  Conversely, you can be perceived as weak and quiet, while you have a character that is brave and made of iron.

A lot of us, myself included, put an enormous amount of work into our persona.  How others see us, and how we see ourselves, is constantly refined.  Problem is, most people don’t think much about their character, which is what we see when we look in the mirror.  Persona is what we are when things are going well and we are refreshed and exhilarated. Character is what we are when things are difficult, and we are cold, wet, and tired.

Persona is what people see at first glance.  Character is what people learn as they get to know you.  Which one is more important to you?