"Poise means holding fast to your principles and acting in accordance with them regardless of how bad or good the situation may be. Poinse means avoiding pose or pretense, comparing yourself to others, or acting like someone or something you're not. Poise means having a brave heart in all circumstances." - John Wooden

Having control and balance in life is important. Others around you determine what kind of a person you are based on how you handle situations. For example, do you have patience? Are you considerate and respectful to others? Do you sometimes like to accommodate others before pleasing yourself? If the answer is no to all of these questions, then maybe there should be a moment where you take the time to evaluate these questions. These are only a few characteristics that people will recognize once they meet someone new and these responses are how they will determine their future relationship with that individual. Here is a video of John Wooden explaining the importance of character in an individual:

 

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/woo0int-5