Can You Measure Your Character?

What It Can Tell You About Your Leadership Capacity

Hope: The Foundation of Growth

The late 1980s were a challenging time for many. We were just emerging from a recession, and I was navigating the early years of my coaching business. The day before Thanksgiving, I took a huge step: I signed a lease for my very first office. It was thrilling and terrifying all at once.

That same day, one of my best clients called to cancel our contract. His business was struggling, and he couldn’t continue. Suddenly, I was staring at an empty calendar and a hefty lease payment. My husband, deep in the unpredictable world of real estate, was also feeling the strain of economic uncertainty. Between our new house mortgage and now this office lease, fear began to creep in.

I went into the holiday scared. That night, after everyone had gone to bed, I prayed like never before. I asked God for guidance, provision, and hope that somehow, my business would flourish. I didn’t know how it would all work out, but I clung to hope as my foundation.

Looking back, that season of fear was transformative. It taught me that hope is a choice to believe in possibilities and take steps forward, even when the path is unclear. Hope doesn’t guarantee immediate answers, but it gives us the courage to keep moving.

Hope and the TPRAT: Building the Foundation of Character

Hope is deeply tied to your character—your ability to meet the demands of life with courage, resilience, and focus. This is where the Townsend Personal and Relational Assessment Tool (TPRAT) becomes invaluable.

Developed by Dr. John Townsend, psychologist, executive coach and best-selling author, the TPRAT measures your proficiency in the four Life Capacities that form your character:

Attachment: The ability to connect deeply with others, building trust and openness. Hope thrives in connection—it’s hard to hold onto hope when you feel isolated.

Separation: The ability to know your boundaries, say no when needed, and stand firm in your convictions. Hope grows when you have clarity about your goals and values.

Integration: The ability to adapt to life’s difficulties, grieve losses, and keep moving forward. Hope shines brightest when you face challenges without self-judgment or entitlement.

Adulthood: The ability to relate to others as equals, pursue your life purpose, and develop your talents. Hope gives you the motivation to reach for what you’re meant to achieve.

Understanding Your Hope Levels

When you take the TPRAT, you’ll receive scores in each of these areas, ranging from Starting (0-24) to Sustaining (85-100). This provides a clear picture of where you stand in your character growth. For example, if you find that your Integration score is low, it might indicate that fear and discouragement are holding you back from embracing hope.

By identifying your starting point, you can create a personalized roadmap for growth using the TPRAT’s targeted Growth Skills. These tools are designed to help you move forward in each Life Capacity, building the resilience, trust, and clarity that hope requires.

Leadership Insights: Hope as a Growth Tool

Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence highlights optimism as a key leadership trait. Similarly, hope is foundational to effective character growth. Leaders—and anyone striving for personal excellence—need hope to navigate uncertainty, inspire others, and stay resilient in the face of challenges.

In a recent publication, Dr. Townsend gives us a glimpse into the leadership of Jesus and how these 4 character traits compelled people to follow him.

For me, hope helped me take that leap of faith with my first office lease, even when the numbers didn’t add up. It gave me the courage to keep pursuing clients, even after setbacks. The same principle applies to anyone: when you foster hope, you open the door to new possibilities.

Reflection and Practice: Hope in Action

Take the TPRAT: Start by visiting TPRAT.com and take the assessment. You will immediately receive a feedback report with a full explanation of your current capacities along with a clear path for further development.

Discover where hope fits into your character and where growth is needed.

Reflect on Fear vs. Hope: Identify one area of your life where fear is holding you back. Ask yourself, “What would it look like to approach this with hope?”

Pray or Meditate: Spend five minutes praying or meditating on a hopeful outcome for this area. Write down any insights or ideas that come to mind.

Act with Intention: Choose one small action this week that aligns with hope. Maybe it’s making a phone call, researching a next step, or simply journaling your vision for the future.

Why Hope Matters for Advent

As we step into Advent, let hope be your starting point. Just as I learned in those uncertain early days of my business, hope emphasizes building the character that sustains us through life’s challenges.

Take the TPRAT this week, and let its insights guide you toward a deeper understanding of yourself. Hope is the foundation for growth in every season.

What will you discover about your capacity for hope?